Truly Outrageous

I’m on a deadline and out of the office tomorrow, so my blogging against sexism is going to be of the short-and-sweet variety. Hopefully I’ll put up some links later for y’all to peruse.

Today’s International Women’s Day.  Hence the blogging against sexism. I’d like to share an anecdote from my past which illustrates the concept ‘internalized sexism in the mental health profession’.

Scene: Therapist’s office. Decor: White. Standard-issue small potted tree: present.

petitpoussin: … so I get really anxious about staying in touch, and probably overreact when I don’t hear from him.

Therapist: Are you calling him?

petitpoussin: Sure.

Therapist: Don’t call him.

petitpoussin: ?

Therapist: Don’t call him unless he calls you.

petitpoussin: Well, I don’t know, doesn’t that seem kind of dishonest? Like playing a game or something? I mean if I want to call him and I haven’t even talked to him that day, what’s the problem?

Therapist: Look, this is the way the ball bounces. I can tell you it bounces a different way but this is how it bounces every time. This is not about playing games, this is about reality.

petitpoussin: [turns to face camera, whispers] Um… what ball?

Therapist: I want to know that you’re going to try this.

petitpoussin: Well… I’m just really uncomfortable with it, that feels really passive… okay, I guess I can view it as learning to leave more space in the relationship or something. Okay I guess I’ll try it.

[Flash forward to end of session]

Therapist: So. Let me know how it goes next time!

petitpoussin: Yeah… I mean I’ll try. I just really don’t know how I feel about this.

Therapist: Well, look. Have you read The Rules?

petitpoussin: [covers face with hands] NO NO NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT NO. OH MY GOD YOU JUST SAID THAT OUT LOUD. NO! [runs screaming from office]

And — scene!