PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN
Introduction:-
The field of the psychology of women provides feminist correctives to the theories and research that have omitted, trivialized, and distorted women’s experiences to fit into a male-biased structure. Thus, the field of the psychology of women recognizes the inequality of social and institutional power between women and men; makes values of the researcher central to scientific study; studies women’s behavior and experiences within social contexts across the life cycle; and advocates for change at the individual, organizational, and societal levels. The field of the psychology of women also encourages individuals to critically analyze all subareas in psychology for their portrayal of women. The psychology of women addresses topics such as gender stereotyping, physical development across the female life cycle, theoretical perspectives on women’s personalities and mental health, women’s health issues, sexuality, reproductive rights and reproductive health, verbal and nonverbal communications by and about women, women and intimate relationships, career psychology of women, women and leadership, gender, power and violence against women, and equity and social change. The psychology of women also is concerned with intersectionalities among sex, race, class, age, ability, sexual orientation and national origin. Empirical research in the psychology of women is used in policymaking on issues such as work–life integration, day care, violence against women, and child abductions and missing children. Researchers in the field of the psychology of women serve as expert witnesses in court cases on issues such as sexual harassment, race discrimination, child sexual abuse, rape, and intimate partner violence. The field of the psychology of women is also referred to as feminist psychology since the objective of this discipline is to understand the individual within the larger political and social aspects of society.
The field of the psychology of women provides feminist correctives to the theories and research that have omitted, trivialized, and distorted women’s experiences to fit into a male-biased structure. Thus, the field of the psychology of women recognizes the inequality of social and institutional power between women and men; makes values of the researcher central to scientific study; studies women’s behavior and experiences within social contexts across the life cycle; and advocates for change at the individual, organizational, and societal levels. The field of the psychology of women also encourages individuals to critically analyze all subareas in psychology for their portrayal of women. The psychology of women addresses topics such as gender stereotyping, physical development across the female life cycle, theoretical perspectives on women’s personalities and mental health, women’s health issues, sexuality, reproductive rights and reproductive health, verbal and nonverbal communications by and about women, women and intimate relationships, career psychology of women, women and leadership, gender, power and violence against women, and equity and social change. The psychology of women also is concerned with intersectionalities among sex, race, class, age, ability, sexual orientation and national origin. Empirical research in the psychology of women is used in policymaking on issues such as work–life integration, day care, violence against women, and child abductions and missing children. Researchers in the field of the psychology of women serve as expert witnesses in court cases on issues such as sexual harassment, race discrimination, child sexual abuse, rape, and intimate partner violence. The field of the psychology of women is also referred to as feminist psychology since the objective of this discipline is to understand the individual within the larger political and social aspects of society.
General Overviews
The field of the psychology of women initially was focused on differences between the sexes with very little attention paid to intersectionality and also diversity because of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, and age (Bardwick 1972, Sherman 1971, Unger and Denmark 1975). Feminist scholars (e.g., Denmark 1994, Worell 1990) have noted that throughout much of the discipline of psychology, an androcentric view of human behavior has posited that men were the normative population and women were studied in order to determine how they compared with male standards. Theories and research in several subfields of psychology were based on boys and men only, e.g., achievement motivation, mental health, and morality (Weisstein 1971). In addition, gendercentrism has been evident in the discipline of psychology since separate paths of development are suggested for women and men as a result of the biological differences between them. The discipline of psychology has also been ethnocentric; psychological theories assume that development is identical for all individuals across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic class groups (Chisholm and Green 2007). Furthermore, psychology has been heterosexist; theories and research assume that a heterosexual orientation is normative, while gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgendered, or questioning individuals are deviations from the heterosexual norm. The first section of this bibliography introduces textbooks and journals on the psychology of women. Subsequent sections examine topics commonly addressed in the psychology of women: history of the field; research methods; teaching courses in the psychology of women; social development; personality development; physical development and health; sexualities, reproductive rights, and reproductive health; mental health; violence; and career development and work. Attention is paid to presenting sample texts, book chapters, and journal articles that address women’s sexual orientations, race, and ethnicity. Classic readings in the psychology of women are presented in addition to more recent research and theories, illustrating the changes in ways the field has evolved since the reemergence of the feminist movement in the early 1970s (Chrisler and Smith 2004). Feminist academicians have claimed feminist principles help them cope with sexism and other forms of discriminatory treatment, noting that feminism is a “life raft” for women (Klonnis, et al. 1987).
The field of the psychology of women initially was focused on differences between the sexes with very little attention paid to intersectionality and also diversity because of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, and age (Bardwick 1972, Sherman 1971, Unger and Denmark 1975). Feminist scholars (e.g., Denmark 1994, Worell 1990) have noted that throughout much of the discipline of psychology, an androcentric view of human behavior has posited that men were the normative population and women were studied in order to determine how they compared with male standards. Theories and research in several subfields of psychology were based on boys and men only, e.g., achievement motivation, mental health, and morality (Weisstein 1971). In addition, gendercentrism has been evident in the discipline of psychology since separate paths of development are suggested for women and men as a result of the biological differences between them. The discipline of psychology has also been ethnocentric; psychological theories assume that development is identical for all individuals across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic class groups (Chisholm and Green 2007). Furthermore, psychology has been heterosexist; theories and research assume that a heterosexual orientation is normative, while gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgendered, or questioning individuals are deviations from the heterosexual norm. The first section of this bibliography introduces textbooks and journals on the psychology of women. Subsequent sections examine topics commonly addressed in the psychology of women: history of the field; research methods; teaching courses in the psychology of women; social development; personality development; physical development and health; sexualities, reproductive rights, and reproductive health; mental health; violence; and career development and work. Attention is paid to presenting sample texts, book chapters, and journal articles that address women’s sexual orientations, race, and ethnicity. Classic readings in the psychology of women are presented in addition to more recent research and theories, illustrating the changes in ways the field has evolved since the reemergence of the feminist movement in the early 1970s (Chrisler and Smith 2004). Feminist academicians have claimed feminist principles help them cope with sexism and other forms of discriminatory treatment, noting that feminism is a “life raft” for women (Klonnis, et al. 1987).
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