| Abstract: | Reviews the book, Victimized daughters: Incest and the development of the female self by Janet Liebman Jacobs (see record 1994-98214-000) that draws on interview data from 50 women to illustrate the impact of childhood incest on female development. The research design uses questionnaire and in-depth interview data that allows for both quantitative and qualitative analyses (Armsworth, 1993). The sample size of 50 is a reasonable number for such content-rich data, and the representation of members of different socioeconomic, ethnic, sexual orientation, and religious groups increases the generalizability and relevance of the findings. Jacobs does not, however, present empirical findings from the interviews, other than preliminary demographics; rather, she uses quotations from the interviews throughout the book to support different generalizations and hypotheses. She thoughtfully addresses the current controversy about delayed memory recall, emphasizing both its political/historical context and its clinical/scientific ramifications. Like Herman (1981, 1992), Jacobs identifies childhood incest as firmly rooted in patriarchy, and her understanding of the psychological and emotional sequelae of childhood incest is organized around the impact of this patriarchal context on feminine identity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
