Paving the Way (lecture 1)

Importance of Women’s Issues

Startling Statistics:

• Representation in Governance:

  • 24% of U.S. Congress are women.

  • 19% of state governors are women.

• Wage Gap:

  • U.S. women earn 79 cents for every dollar earned by men.

  • Worldwide, women earn only 54% of men's earnings.

• Missing Women:

  • Estimated 130 million women missing from the global population.

• Educational Disparities:

  • In some regions, women are not allowed to attend school.

Course Discussion Questions

• What motivated your choice in Psychology of Women?

• Identify the most pressing issues women face today.

• Topics students wish to be included.

• One change desired for the future concerning women's rights.

Gender Identity Reflection

• Encourage students to reflect on instances of being treated differently due to gender identity.

Psychology of Women: Historical Context

Origins:

• Initially androcentric psychology: differences attributed to biology rather than socialization.

• 1960s marked the entry of women into psychological research.

Influential Studies:

• Categories of significant articles in Psychology of Women Quarterly:

  • Feminist Research Methods

  • Women and girls in social contexts: gender roles and sexism

  • Violence Against Women

  • Women’s Bodies and Sexuality

The Women’s Movement

First Wave:

• 1848: Seneca Falls Convention

• 1920: 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote.

Second Wave:

• 1960s: Resurgence of the women's movement.

  • Formation of the Association for Women in Psychology (AWP) in 1969.

  • Establishment of APA Division 35 (now Society for the Psychology of Women) in 1973.

  • APA Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP) introduced in 1973.

Third Wave:

• 1990s: Emphasis on social activism, sexuality, self-reliance, empowerment.

  • Movements like Riot Grrrls and SlutWalk.

Fourth Wave:

• Current Movements:

  • #MeToo and #TIMESUP: Calls to end silence around discrimination and harassment.

Psychological Research Methods

• Different methodologies include:

  1. Qualitative vs. Quantitative: Qualitative research focuses on understanding concepts, experiences, or social phenomena through words and descriptions, often collected through interviews or observations. In contrast, quantitative research involves numerical data, statistical analysis, and measurable variables to identify patterns and test hypotheses.

  2. Correlational Studies: These studies examine the association between two or more variables to determine if they vary together. Correlation does not imply causation; it only indicates a relationship.

  3. Longitudinal Studies: These studies involve repeated observations of the same variables over long periods. They are useful for tracking changes and developments in subjects over time.

  4. Archival Research: This method involves analyzing existing data or records (archival data), such as documents, surveys, and historical records, to draw conclusions about a research question.

  5. Experiments: Experiments are structured studies where researchers manipulate one or more independent variables to determine their effect on a dependent variable, while controlling for other factors. This method allows for establishing cause-and-effect relationships.

  • Importance of unbiased research in understanding women's issues.

Intersectionality

• Definition: overlapping social identities and the systems of oppression related to them.

Key Components:

• Categories include: Sexuality, gender, ethnicity, class, race, education, history, religion, age, language, heritage.

Understanding Feminism

Definition:

• Feminism embodies the belief in women's value and the necessity for social change.

Historical Perspective:

• Quote by Rebecca West (1913):

  • "I have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is; I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat."

Types of Feminism:

1. Liberal Feminism:

   • Advocates for full legal and social equality; supports change in laws and values.

2. Radical Feminism:

   • Sees women as oppressed by men; promotes separatism.

3. Woman-of-Color Feminism/Womanism:

   • Critiques the original feminist movement for excluding women of color; focuses on issues like poverty, racism, education access.

4. Cultural Feminism:

   • Emphasizes the differences between genders and the need for respect of women's qualities, including unpaid labor.

5. Global Feminism:

   • Examines prejudice and discrimination against women in a global context; recognizes that Western feminists do not have all the solutions.

Conclusion:

• Feminist Belief: Women are valuable and social change is essential for their benefit.