Table of Contents
Why is feminism important in psychology?
Feminist psychologists have challenged cultural beliefs about innate female nature, and also invidious stereotypes about various groups of women. It has brought to light the lives and experiences of women and girls across the social spectrum. They found that women are still underrepresented among veteran psychological scientists, although psychology is doing comparatively better than other fields in closing the gender gap in early-career advancement. Women’s issues can refer to any concern that might impact a woman’s mental health. These concerns might be related to gender stereotyping or assumptions and concerns related to women’s health, but they are also likely to include other challenges faced by women that have nothing to do with gender. Women’s mental health is an important element in one’s overall well-being and contentedness, as it maintains cognitive alternates, emotional sanity, and balance of ourselves, lives, and relationships. When one is mentally balanced and at peace with themselves internally, they are practicing good mental health. Traditionally feminism is often divided into three main traditions, sometimes known as the Big Three schools of feminist thought: liberal/mainstream feminism, radical feminism and socialist or Marxist feminism. Most feminists agree on five basic principles—working to increase equality, expanding human choice, eliminating gender stratification, ending sexual violence, and promoting sexual freedom.
What is the goal of feminist psychology?
The field of Feminist Psychology seeks to improve the lives of women, and therefore of all people, through research, clinical practice, and social advocacy that focus on women and girls and social contexts in which women live. A gender bias is the differential treatment and/or representation of males and females, based on stereotypes and not on real differences. Karen Horney This German psychoanalyst born in the late 1800s founded feminist psychology, the study of how gender power imbalances impact the development of psychological theories and mental health treatment. There is no one who has championed women’s rights more than Gloria Steinem. Dubbed the Mother of Feminism, she’s a social activist, writer, editor and lecturer. In addition to self-awareness, demonstrating empathy (understanding and sharing the feelings of someone else) and taking a culturally relativist perspective is another way to reduce gender bias. Psychology, once a man’s profession, now attracts mostly women. Data from the 1986 APA report, The Changing Face of American Psychology, and the National Science Foundation show that the percentage of psychology PhDs awarded to men has fallen from nearly 70 percent in 1975 to less than 30 percent in 2008.
What is feminist theory in psychology?
Feminist therapy is an integrative approach to psychotherapy that focuses on the challenges that women face as a result of bias, stereotyping, oppression, discrimination, and other factors, and how those stressors can negatively affect their mental health. Feminist theory often focuses on analyzing gender inequality. Themes often explored in feminist theory include discrimination, objectification (especially sexual objectification), oppression, patriarchy, stereotyping, art history and contemporary art, and aesthetics. The main types of Feminism are Liberal, Marxist, Radical and Difference or Postmodern Feminisms. (Although many Feminists themselves may not recognise these ‘types’ because they oversimplify Feminist theory. The result is that psychology professions are pervasively female-dominated: 80 per cent of Clinical Psychologists and Educational Psychologists are women. Mary Wollstonecraft is seen by many as a founder of feminism due to her 1792 book titled A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in which she argues for women’s education. Charles Fourier, a utopian socialist and French philosopher, is credited with having coined the word féminisme in 1837.
Why is gender bias important in psychology?
The term bias is used to suggest that a person’s views are distorted in some way, and in psychology there is evidence that gender is presented in a biased way. This bias leads to differential treatment of males and females, based on stereotypes and not real differences. A gender bias is the differential treatment and/or representation of males and females, based on stereotypes and not on real differences. Results. Based on the interviews, gender biases affecting women’s surgical training and careers are of four types: biases in workplace conditions; epistemic injustices; role stereotypes and experiences of objectification. Many of the instances of gender bias were subtle. A “bias” is a fan’s favorite member within a group—whether because they find them attractive, admire their talent or just appreciate their overall appeal. Some K-Pop fans have an “ultimate bias” or their favorite not just from a group but out of all K-pop idols. Women’s Studies, also referred to as Gender Studies or Feminist Studies, is the interdisciplinary study of how intersectionality of gender, race, age, class, nationality, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, and other differences impact almost every facet of the social, political, and cultural experience.
Who was the first feminist in psychology?
The term feminist psychology was originally coined by Karen Horney. In her book, Feminine Psychology, which is a collection of articles Horney wrote on the subject from 1922–1937, she addresses previously held beliefs about women, relationships, and the effect of society on female psychology. Karen Horney was an early 20th century psychoanalyst. Her critique of some of Sigmund Freud’s views led to the founding of feminist psychology. Feminist therapists typically operate from the assumption that women and other oppressed groups are at risk for mental health issues due to the psychological distress caused by these obstacles. Therapy focuses on supporting those in treatment as they work to overcome limitations and restrictions. Although writings that could be characterized as “feminist” or embodying the perspectives and experiences of women have appeared throughout time, the history of Western feminist theory usually begins with the works of Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797), one of the first feminist writers in the liberal tradition.
What is the goal of feminism?
In general, feminism can be seen as a movement to put an end to sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression and to achieve full gender equality in law and in practice. As a social movement, the main characteristics and demands of feminism include: Equal pay in the workplace. Reproductive rights. Women’s suffrage. Issues commonly associated with notions of women’s rights include the right to bodily integrity and autonomy, to be free from sexual violence, to vote, to hold public office, to enter into legal contracts, to have equal rights in family law, to work, to fair wages or equal pay, to have reproductive rights, to own … The Global Role of Women – Caretakers, Conscience, Farmers, Educators and Entrepreneurs. Throughout history, the central role of women in society has ensured the stability, progress and long-term development of nations. One of the major causes of gender inequality is the lack of awareness among women about their rights and their ability to achieve equality. This lack of awareness is often due to the prevailing cultural and social norms, which dictate that women should be subservient to men. Education has made women independent and they are no longer dependent on men to lead their lives. Business laws have changed to allow more women in the workplace and giving them a comfortable environment to work in. Women can now stand tall like men and get equal opportunities in everything.
Why is women’s mental health important?
Mood and mental health play an important role in many aspects of women’s lives. They may affect relationships, self-esteem, work performance and even physical health. Research shows possible connections between certain mental health conditions and physical ailments, such as heart disease and gastrointestinal issues. Women’s mental health is an important element in one’s overall well-being and contentedness, as it maintains cognitive alternates, emotional sanity, and balance of ourselves, lives, and relationships. When one is mentally balanced and at peace with themselves internally, they are practicing good mental health. Even so, women bear exclusive health concerns, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, menopause, and pregnancy. Women suffer higher heart attack deaths compared to men. Depression and anxiety exhibit more frequently among female patients. Major life transitions such as pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause can create physical and emotional stresses for women. Negative life experiences like infertility and perinatal loss, poverty, discrimination, violence, unemployment, and isolation, also impact women’s mental health and well-being.