Bibliography

Cowan, G. & Warren, L.W. (1994). Codependency and gender-stereotyped traits. Sex Roles, 30(9/10),
       631-645.
In this article the authors completed a research study analyzing the relationship between gender, stereotyped traits and codependency measures. The researchers found that codependency overlaps with negative female stereotyped traits that can be witnessed in both men and female behaviors, and that codependency shows less overlap with valued feminine traits. In other words codependency focuses on negatively valued feminine traits, not all feminine traits.

Granello, D.H. & Beamish, P. M. (1998). Reconceptualizing codependency in women: A sense of
       connectedness, not pathology. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 20(4), 344-358.
In this article the authors outline the current definition of codependency, which is not concretely defined and has been used to mean several different things, particularly in relation to women, and seek to find a reconceptualization of the term that can actually create empowerment in women. By doing this the authors feel it will decrease the pathologizing of women's behaviors. The authors proposed looking at codependency in terms of the self-in-relation theory, which outlines the need for women to value connectedness and relationships over the more typical male autonomy that our society values.

Martin, A.L. & Piazza, N. J. (1995). Codependency in women: Personality disorder or popular descriptive term? Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 17(4), 428-440.
The authors of this article set out to try and find a more concrete definition of codependency in women. In the past many researchers have suggested making codependency a personality disorder. This study set out to see if accepted diagnostic criteria would indeed warrant the necessity for an additional personality disorder. While all subjects in the study had been diagnosed with codependency, they were not considered to have an separate personality disorder. Rather researchers found that codependency was better used as an indicator for other personality disorders. The researchers found that codependency may be much more of a coping technique or adaptive response mechanism, than disorder.

Noriega, G., Ramos, L., Medina-Mora, M.E., & Villa, A.R. (2008). Prevalence of codependence in young
       women seeking primary health care and associated risk factors. American Journal of 
       Orthospsychiatry, 78(2), 199-210.
This article set out to outline some of the etiological factors contributing to codependency in women. These factors may be due to familial concerns, such as in the cases of substance abuse or domestic abuse, and may be perpetuated by submissive scripts for women created by societal forces. This study was completed to examine the prevalence of codependency among women seeking help.

van Wormer, K. (1995). Codependency: Implications for women and therapy. In M. Babcock & M.C.
       McKay (Eds.), Challenging codependency: Feminist critiques (117-128). Toronto, ON, Canada:
       University of Toronto Press.
This chapter outlines the meaning of the term codependency and takes a historical view of the use of the term. The chapter highlights the socio-political roots in sexism the term takes and how this has affected the treatment of women in the mental health field. This chapter looks at the teachings of Alcoholics Anonymous and the family systems approach when working with women labelled with codependency. Lastly, the chapter highlights the importance of using non-sexist therapy when working with these clients.