My introduction as a Guest Editor for the Journal of Feminist Family Therapy (JFFT) began with the Special Issue on Women’s Health.Footnote1 This excellent series of articles made–up the past five issues focusing on sexual health and reproductive health (Vol. 32, Issues 1–2), gender and health and pain (Vol. 32, Issues 3–4), and cancer (Vol. 33, Issue 1). My gratitude to former Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Joyce Baptist, for her support and encouragement as I have transitioned into this role leaves me with few words to better capture her skills and graciousness other than – thank you! I am honored to be added to a long list of incredible feminists who have served in this role before me – Founding Editor, Lois Braverman and former Editors (in alphabetical order): Joyce Baptist, Betty Mackune-Karrer, Anne M. Prouty, Janine Roberts, and Toni Schindler Zimmerman. The focus of this journal on our identities as feminists is so important to my own identity as a socially responsible couple and family therapist.
With the experience on the Special Issue including an increased number of submissions, I was able to recruit over 45 new reviewers through direct contacts and e-mail listservs. Reviewers are essential to the success of a journal. In partnership with the Editor, they guide what is published. Most important is a diverse reviewer network across geography, identity, and experience. If the collective lens of the reviewers is narrow, so becomes the journal. One of my first goals as Editor is to continue to expand the representation of the reviewer database. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, please e-mail me at [email protected]. I am looking for reviewers (doctoral level academics and clinicians as well as content area experts with master’s degrees) and student reviewers (doctoral students and advanced master’s students). Secondary to this goal is to assess both our current reviewers and Editorial Board as well as do an author and content analysis of the last two decades of publications to better understand the history and content which form the current identity of JFFT. From a deeper understanding of where the journal has been and who are the communities of interest – authors, reviewers, readers – I can develop a better plan for growth, including an increase in submissions.
Beginning with this issue, I am also launching a new section of the journal called “Feminist Voices.” Included in this section moving forward will be an opportunity for continued submission of movie reviews, such as “Wonder Woman 1984: Wish Fulfillment and Reasonable Expectations” by Kyle Killian as well as obituaries honoring our fellow feminists, “In Memoriam: Betty Dodson – ‘Better Orgasms, Better Worlds’” by Karen Washington and Jewel Spencer. More specifically, I invite you to submit short (under five pages) first person pieces that are responses or reactions to already published articles or to current events, for example, the impact of the coronavirus or the recent violence against women who identified as Asian and sex workers in Atlanta. This issue features a poem, “Emerging from Therapy School: A Reflection” by Tara O’Leary, as well as “Beyond the Numbers: A Demand for a Post-Rape Age” by Markie L. C. Twist, as examples of feminist voices to be highlighted in this new section of JFFT. The goal is to both begin a discourse through the feminist lens and give voice to those without, consistent with feminist theory. With this shift, we thank Movie Editor, Dr. Kristen Holm who has served since 2003 joining the journal under Dr. Zimmerman’s tenure as Editor-in-Chief. I hope that you enjoy these pieces and consider submitting your own feminist voice!
Notes
1. Reviewers of this special issue will be listed in the final issue of this volume.