The Perpetuation of Patriarchy: The Hidden Factor of Gender Bias in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Children

Abstract

The history of the mental health movement suggests that political and economic forces often have undue influence on the science of nosology. Given this situation, diagnostic categories which are applied disproportionately to a particular population segment may warrant reconsideration. While many scholars have questioned why a number of adult diagnostic categories are used disproportionately with females, few have examined why the diagnostic categories for children are applied with greater frequency to males. The authors suggest that gender bias in the diagnosis and treatment of children ultimately serves to foster patriarchy, by reinforcing existing patterns of maternal child rearing rather than promoting the goal of shared parenting.