| Feminist legal reformers have historically criticized the use of family mediation. They support their criticisms in the disadvantaged position of women in a society with patriarchal structures of power and the impossibility for mediation, as a private process, to effectively deal with these inequities. Recognizing the importance of the feminist critique of mediation, the family mediation community promoted in 1992 the creation of a formal dialogue between family mediators and feminist legal reformers through the organization of the Toronto Forums on Women Abuse in 1992 and in 1993. As a consequence of these Forums, policy changes in the standards of practice of family mediation were recommended by representatives of the two groups, which were introduced into the standards of practice in 1994. This thesis explores the current views, both of feminists and family mediators, about the practice of family mediation ten years after these changes were introduced. This thesis demonstrates that, despite the changes introduced, there still remains a debate between feminist legal scholars and family mediators regarding the current practice of family mediation. This thesis encourages a systematic dialogue between feminist legal reformers, family mediators, victims of abuse and other social actors interested in the debate. |
