“Am I My Mother’s Daughter?” Eliciting Self-Awareness in the Transmission of Gender Roles Through Family Role Models

Family role models influence our conscious and unconscious attitudes, behaviors, and styles in which we relate in both our closest relationships and our relationships in general. We acquire them from our parents by simply living together, observing, or unconsciously copying them. Some are deliberately chosen and willingly followed, whereas many are unconsciously acquired. Group work helps to raise consciousness of these relationship styles through the processes of reflecting, inquiring, or mirroring.