Chapter 1

PAVING THE WAY

Instructor: Amber Depuydt-Goodlock

Introduction
Why does
Psychology of
Gender exist?

Consider
Women currently only hold 18% of the 535 seats in
U.S. Congress and 23% hold statewide elective
executive offices (Center for Women and Politics, 2013)
To date, a total of 47 women of color have served in
Congress (Center for Women and Politics, 2013)
The United Nations estimates that 100 million women
are missing from the global population (United Nations, 2010)
Worldwide wage gap- 77 cents (American Association of University
Women, 2013)

History Of Gender Studies

Psychological knowledge was androcentric, or malecentered.
Feminist psychologists focus on research with women as
a focus.
NAOMI WEISSTEIN: One of the first
Declared that the psychology of that era had nothing to say about what
women are really like, what they need, and what they want because
psychology did not know very much at all about women.

Increased awareness and education around gender

specific issues (especially for women and girls).

History of feminism
First Wave
Seneca Falls Declaration of 1848
19th Amendment, 1920: Women win the Right to Vote
Second Wave
1960s Womens Liberation Movement
The Third Wave:
Contemporary Feminism
Emphasis on social activism

Feminism
How would you define feminism?
What would you consider to be the opposite viewpoint
of feminism?

How would you characterize a self-described feminist?

How do you think the medias portrayal of feminism
has influenced your beliefs about feminism?

Feminism
What does it mean to be Pro-Feminist?

Mens Movements?
Social movement consisting of groups and
organizations of men who focus on gender
issues (self-help- activism).

Is there a new movement needed now?

What would the goals be?

What is a feminism?
Multiple Definitions:
At the most fundamental level, a feminist is someone who believes
women and men should be treated equally.
Feminism: a movement to end sexism and sexist oppression (Hooks,
1984).

Feminist: a person who believes women are valuable and social change
to benefit women is needed.
Pro-feminist: a man holding values prescribed as feminist, recognizing
womens leadership in social change activism.
The opposite- Social Conservatism: keep gender arrangements as they
have been in the past- men holding more public power and status.

Branches of Feminism
Liberal feminism: women are entitled to
full legal and social equality with men and
who favors changes in laws, customs, and
values to achieve the goal of equality.

Radical feminism: emphasizes the male

control and domination of women as the

most fundamental form of oppression.
Research on violence against women &
girls.
Separatism: women better off in womencentered communities.

feminism?
Womanism or Women-of-Color feminism:
rejects separatism; focuses on experiences of
women of color; sees men of color as also
oppressed by effects of racism.
Strengths-based perspective
Focuses on issues of importance to minority
communities.
Poverty, racism, jobs, health care and access to education.

Do not see men of color as oppressors but as brothers

that suffer the effects of racism as women of color do.

feminism
Cultural feminism: emphases differences
between men and women, including gender
differences in values and social behaviors.

Recognizes historical devaluing of girls

& women, including missing recognition
of contributions.

feminism?
Global feminism: feminism as a global
social movement.
Focuses on how prejudice and
discrimination against women are
related across cultures.
Recognizes how oppression is
connected to systems of neocolonialism and global capitalism

Mens Movement
Profeminist
NOMAS
Mens antiviolence groups
Masculinist
Fathers rights
Promise Keepers

Homework
Read Ch. 2

Reflection #1: Feminism

Briefly summarize the first week of this class. State
your reactions after taking the Feminist Perspective
Scale by Henley (link is located in e-learning, under
Content, Week 1).
Reflect on your results from the Feminist Perspective
Scale and your reactions to how these definitions fit
with the definitions you had in mind coming into this
class.