Canadian feminism and psychology: The first decade.

Abstract

The history of the Canadian Psychological Association's recognition of the validity of a feminist perspective in psychology is outlined together with an overview of the current status of women psychologists in the nation. Documenting the development of a psychology of women speciality, a selected review of the research conducted by psychologists in Canada dealing with sex roles, sex differences, achievement, feminism and psychobiology, is presented. In the applied areas of the discipline analogous developments have occurred in terms of the establishment of a link between sex roles and psychopathology, the critical appraisal of traditional therapies, the creation of alternative therapy approaches and the generation of ethical standards pertinent to the provision of psychological services to women. The interdisciplinary quality of the psychology of women is discussed and an overview of this new field is provided.Although the recrudescence of the Women's Liberation Movement occurred in the sixties, Canadian psychology was relatively insensitive to the implications of the Movement until the mid seventies. However, signs of a feminist impetus are now discernible in all aspects of psychology: (1) in the internal operation of the discipline and the general status of women psychologists, (2) in the academic arena in terms of research, scholarship and training, and (3) in the practice of applied psychology. Space will not permit an in-depth analysis of all the feminist influences in these three spheres, but we shall try to provide an overview of some of the more significant trends, with particular attention to the Canadian scene. Three other reviews on the topic of women and psychology (Mednick & Wiessman, 1975;Parlee, 1979;Weyant, 1979), in conjunction with the present review of Canadian contributions, provide a comprehensive coverage of what is clearly a major restructuring of the discipline.

Heterarchical social organizations and relational models: Understanding gender biases in psychological science

“…For instance, North American commentators have suggested that clinical and applied psychologists reflect distinct groups relative to experimental psychologists (Kimble, 1984; Matarazzo, 1987), with each group claiming that the other is preferentially assigned more rewards (e.g., grants, status within the larger research community) than they in fact merit (e.g., Hebb, 1948). For similar reasons, others have suggested establishing and maintaining sections of professional organizations (Pyke & Stark-Adamec, 1981) and awards within psychology that specifically recognize the contributions of women (Gurevich, 2001). These observations and suggestions reflect the features of a heterarchy.…”

Women's organisations in psychology: Institutional constraints on disciplinary change

“…It is interesting to note, first, that they are brought into play despite the fact that the first proposal for a Psychology of Women Section in the IJK (undated, c. May/June 1985) included a deliberate attempt to educate, in setting out the scope of the field: this was clearly ignored. Second, there has been some attempt in most of these countries (although not always 262 Sue Wilkinson dovetailing with attempts to organise) to prepare and/ or publish reviews of the field that seem to serve both an educational and a self-justificatory function (e.g., Winkler, Smith, Dagleish, & Gault, 1975, for Australia;Pyke & Stark-Adamec, 1981, for Canada).…”

Epistemological Values of Feminists in Psychology

“…Feminist psychology in North America emerged as a formally organized, distinct community of scholars in 1969 with the formation of AWP, whose members pushed for the creation of Division 35 (Psychology of Women) of the APA. Parallel efforts took place in Canada around the same time and resulted in the organization.known today as the Section on Women and Psychology (SWAP) of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) (Pyke & Stark-Adamec, 1981). These developments took place within the larger social context of the women's movement, and feminist psychology has always been explicit in acknowledging its emancipatory values and goals.…”