Abstract
Personal journal writing to voice experience is a complex form of inquiry, often related to ethnography. This article critically appreciates depressive realism (DR) from a feminist perspective using personal journal writing. It is argued that second-wave feminist ideas are ‘current’ and developing again and, in different and creative ways, provide alternatives to DR. Collective action is illustrated in the UK and in international contexts, whether to combat individual depression or in more explicitly political movements. Although there is a case for optimistic thinking, the therapy industry is cited as a gendered area in need of radical review, and a focus for feminist attention.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes on contributor
Jeannie Wright is currently Associate Professor at the University of Malta, teaching and researching in the Department of Counselling. She has been active in feminist and other political activities since the 1960s, and has maintained the habit.