Margaret Floy Washburn (1871–1939) was a pioneering psychologist who became the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology. Her significant research contributions focused primarily on the areas of animal behavior and cognition.

Margaret Floy Washburn

Following the election of Mary Whiton Calkins as the first female president of the American Psychological Association in 1905, the presence of women in the field expanded notably. By 1946, women accounted for almost a quarter of all psychologists in the United States, marking a significant demographic shift in the profession.

Growth of Women in American Psychology

Mary Whiton Calkins (1863–1930) was a prominent first-generation American psychologist. Mentored by William James, she completed all doctoral requirements at Harvard in the mid-1890s, but the university refused to grant her the degree due to her gender, despite James's advocacy on her behalf. Her major contributions include founding an early experimental psychology lab, conducting key research on memory, opposing the behaviorist movement, and becoming the first female president of the American Psychological Association in 1905.

Mary Whiton Calkins

Mary Cover Jones was an influential female psychologist recognized for her pioneering work in behavior therapy. Her most famous study involved successfully unconditioning a fear of rabbits in a young boy known as Little Peter, positioning her work as a sequel to John B. Watson's research on Little Albert.

Mary Cover Jones

Some early female contributors to psychology include:

- Margaret Floy Washburn
- Mary Whiton Calkins
- Mary Cover Jones

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New Mexico Highlands University

Feminist psychology is a perspective that emerged to address and correct the historical male-dominated nature of the field. For much of its early history, psychology was a "womanless" science, meaning very few women could practice it or influence its research agenda. Furthermore, research subjects were predominantly men, leading to a skewed understanding of human behavior. Feminist psychology seeks to counteract these biases by actively including women's perspectives, scientifically studying gender, and re-examining the field to ensure a more equitable and accurate representation of all people.

Feminist Psychology

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Naomi Weisstein's 1968 article is credited with sparking a feminist revolution within psychology. In it, she critiqued the field for its unscientific approach to understanding women, arguing that male psychologists constructed their theories based on personal cultural biases rather than objective experimental data. To illustrate her point, she cited contemporary psychologists like Bruno Bettleheim, who claimed women's primary goal was to be companions and mothers over pursuing scientific careers. This critique laid the essential groundwork for developing a feminist psychology aimed at being free from such male-centric cultural influences.

Naomi Weisstein's Impact on Feminist Psychology

Pioneering ethnic minority women in psychology, such as Martha Bernal and Inez Beverly Prosser, made significant contributions to the field, particularly through studies related to education.

Ethnic Minority Women in Psychology

Women in Psychology

Coined by Crawford & Marecek (1989), the term 'womanless' psychology describes the state of the field until the 1960s. During this period, very few women were able to practice psychology, which meant they had minimal influence on the questions that were studied and the theories that were developed.

'Womanless' Psychology (until the 1960s)

According to Crawford & Marecek (1989), feminist psychology encompasses several key approaches. These include a critical re-examination of psychology's history to uncover and acknowledge the contributions of women, a focus on scientifically studying the psychological differences between genders, and a systematic questioning of the inherent male bias within the traditional scientific methods used in the field.

Feminist Approaches to Psychology (Crawford & Marecek)

A foundational study on career ambition, conducted in the 1950s, based its conclusions entirely on data from male participants. The results were then widely published as a general theory of human ambition. From a psychological perspective concerned with correcting historical imbalances and ensuring a more inclusive understanding of human behavior, what is the most significant criticism of this study?

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