The PTSD Diagnosis: Is It Good for Women?

Abstract

This article discusses the feminist response to the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is used to identify and treat the psychological symptoms of women who have been sexually and physically abused.Feminist reaction to PTSD is often contentious and appears to divide along political lines, roughly conceptualized as liberal, radical, and socialist.The author reviews the theoretical stances of these factions in regard to gender issues, politics, and psychology and considers their responses (actual or probable) to the PTSD diagnosis.