“Codependency”
is a mental sickness that acknowledged by psychology which consists of the
following characteristics: depending highly on others, viewing personal values
low, highly oppressing self-emotion and lacking of independence and a healthy
relationship between others (Shu & Wu, 2004). Such characteristics can be
strongly associated with the qualities that Taiwanese society usually expected
on women, or even those women expected on themselves, such as obedient,
passively, taking care of others, etc. As a result, researchers compare the
ideas of codependency with women’s qualities above and try to discuss the
coherence between the two and whether if our society tends to put sickness on
the women with those qualities.
In the research of department of Educational Psychology and Counseling
in National Taiwan Normal University, they divided those women
who are tested into four groups of sex character tendencies, which are having
the qualities of female, male, both sides and neither. They pick of the
tendency of female character and tested them with questionnaire so as to find
out their intersection with the quality of codependency. According to the
result of the experiment, in the four index of the qualities of codependency,
which includes “seeing others as the focus point of life,” “endorsing the
character of taking care of others,” “seeking values of life from relationship
with others” and “lacking the ability of expressing emotion,” there are only
two of the qualities that overlap with the women who tend to be more like a
character of women. The two intersections are “endorsing the character of
taking care of others” and “seeking values of life from relationship with
others.” The other two qualities, however, are present even an opposite rate of
the women’s qualities, that is, the more tendency to be like a woman, the less
do they “seeing others as the focus point of life” and “lacking the ability of
expressing emotion.”
Whether if codependency can be equalized
with women’s qualities under such result are remain question, however, we can
find something worth discussing from them. For example, endorsing the character
of taking care of others reflect a common notion in Taiwanese society, which is
that in Chinese culture, we are used to value helping others as a great virtue,
and especially demands highly on women to take care of others, family for
instance (Shu & Wu, 2004.) However, it also presents
women’s approval to themselves through taking care of others. In other words,
we should not see this quality of codependency as a mental sickness, or negative
characteristic, on women. Oppositely, we should consider it a behavior for
women to exercise their autonomy, just as they decide to make any decision as
well.
Back to Taiwanese society nowadays, influencing
by the value of self-improving from the Western culture, we tend to view more valuable
on those women who aim to get success as men and consider them as index of improvement.
However, we should not neglect those quality of seeing others important, as
those are also approvals for some part of women. To sum up, we can say that autonomy
for women is not only choose to get the equal status as men, but makes whatever
decision by own mind.
Reference
Yi-jen,
Shu. & Li-jiaun, Wu. (2004, Sep). Study of Relationships among Sex-role
Orientation, Codependency and Self-esteem of Female Adults in Taiwan. Bulletin of Educational Psychology, 36(1) pp.85-107
Retrieved
from http://ir.lib.ntnu.edu.tw/ir/retrieve/19448/ntnulib_ja_A0201_3601_085.pdf
I think the formation of codependency is largely related to Asian culture and social value. As you say, codependency is not a mental sickness but a self-decision made by women. To be specific, there're lots of women willing to take it as part of their life but, still, some of them are imposed on with gender stereotype to fall into codependency. Hence, the advocacy to clarify codependency is worth worthwhile to be taken since we need to make people know how codependency comes and let women know the accurate definition of it that they, in reality, are supposed to be more care-free to be themselves with multiple options as they thought. Staying at home and taking care of others is totally not the only way to be like a woman. Women have the right to know their position in the context of society and go for it as they want. The division of gender role and social role has to be lucid. The era has changed and the new notion should've befell.
回覆刪除It is a crucial issue for every woman to meditate on it. Due to the traditional culture, women used to be confined in the cages of the behaviors and thoughts, but as the new era comes, women start to stand out to demonstrate their ability and excellent status in different vocations and authorities. While there are still existing the the percentage of women whom restricted in the traditional concept, displaying the phenomenon of codependency. To improve this kind of situation, according to your annotation, just as you mention that women should not only get success as men but also not neglect the quality of seeing others important.
回覆刪除First you start with the definition of codependency. And it is clear and easy to understand. You mention “whether if our society tends to put sickness on the women with those qualities.” In my opinion, this annotation you are trying to deal with the issue of stereotype, right? Also, the research is well-depicted. The four -group tests are not only interesting to me but also support your topic adequately. Progressively, you use the result of the observation to express your own thesis, which is an impressive way because sometimes it would easily fall into vanity without any examples and illustrations. At the end of the annotation, you talk back to Taiwanese women’s situation. All in all, the construction is well-organized. This is a part I need to learn. Thank you.
回覆刪除This made me think of the glass ceiling effect. Nowadays, even though people promote the idea of gender equality, there are still lots of fallacies exist in each field. Therefore, I think that this will become an issue to be well focus on. Yet, maybe this is just another fallacy due to our own traditional thoughts, which women should never be superior to men. Not only in our culture, but all over the world, there is this huge misunderstanding that women are the one who listens to the order, not who gives the order. So, maybe finding some women right evaluation in history will give you some ideas of the issue and the problems that should be deal.
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回覆刪除Dear Angela,
I get new viewpoint from reading your annotation, and you directly point out the contradiction in understanding of women state. Policy or some slogans always claim that women should be treated equally like men. But the most absurdity is that why do we need to take men as standard? All women should do is making decisions by their own will. This kind of statement is so fresh to me. The crucial point is that whether the behaviors and decisions are out of women’s will instead of comparing with men’s. I think your point is good and highlight the part ignored by the masses.
I think this "codependency" part is really interesting for me. Unlike women in middle east, who are limited a lot of their basic human right because of religion, women in Taiwan are more liberal and more open nowadays. To me, codependency being seemed as a sickness on women is also unacceptable. In Taiwan, there's still women who are disrespected because of their job or no job, which is unfair. I like how you use this theory rethinking and reflect to Taiwan's culture. Here some questions I wander: What is the difference between Taiwan's women and other countries' women? Since every country have different values on women. From your conclusion, you say that we can't neglect women who don't reach that high level, I wonder which value of women is seemed valuable by Taiwan's people? Is there a way we can do to change how society looks on women?
回覆刪除Dear 晨安,
回覆刪除The experiment you showed in your annotation is very inspiring. It tries to overthrow the notion that the women who like to take care of others is constructed rather than of one’s own free will. Influenced by the western value, women in Taiwan mistake themselves as being oppressed. However, I have some questions for the experiment. The women tested are divided into four groups of sex character tendencies, but how did they determine what qualities belong to female or male? Was there any standards? I am curious because I think there are no such characteristics that only belong to females or males. Perhaps the resource you found can answer my question.