Summary
Highlights
The video introduces Silvia García Dauder's text, questioning the role and exclusion of women in the early history of psychology and exploring the link between psychology and feminism.
The first wave of feminism coincided with the rise of psychology as a science. Women fought for access to universities, facing explicit bans in the late 19th century. By 1893, women began entering the American Psychological Association (APA).
Figures like Mary Whiton Calkins, Margaret Floy Washburn, and Leta Stetter Hollingworth played a crucial role in establishing psychology as a recognized science and profession, enduring significant discrimination.
In 1906, women comprised 12% of psychologists listed in 'American Men of Science,' later growing to 22% by 1938, highlighting their pioneering status in a relatively new field.
Despite facing humiliation and over-qualification, these women secured the entry of future generations of women into universities. Mary Whiton Calkins became APA president, yet faced obstacles in obtaining her doctorate.
García Dauder emphasizes the necessity of a feminist historiography of psychology, acknowledging the social context and prejudices faced by women researchers.
Women in science faced pervasive prejudices, including beliefs about their intellectual inferiority, physical weakness, and lack of mental variability, reinforced by some psychologists.
Pioneering women conducted research to disprove these prejudices, investigating sex differences and challenging prevailing gender biases. Their work was essential for opening up psychology to women.
The pioneers confronted debates around women's roles, the impact of education on their reproductive health, and the perceived conflict between career and family, reflecting ongoing societal tensions. Psychologists and academics often reinforced the sentiment that women attending college was egoistic and went against 'biological ethics.'
Universities often denied women degrees, even with excellent grades, citing technicalities. Several pioneers faced significant delays or were denied doctorates despite meeting the requirements.
Married women were frequently barred from academic employment, leading them to create roles in social reform and helping professions, contributing valuable knowledge that was often disregarded by the male-dominated academic establishment.
To remain in academia, some women remained single, taught in women's colleges, and formed Boston marriages (romantic relationships with other women). They also had to adopt a 'feminine mask,' appearing charming and non-threatening to succeed in male-dominated environments.
Despite facing constraints, pioneering women like Mary Whiton Calkins and Leta Stetter Hollingworth conducted research disproving stereotypes about women's mental inferiority and the impact of menstruation on performance.
The research challenging gender stereotypes supported the feminist movement, giving rise to feminist psychology. This collaboration helped open doors for future generations of women in psychology.
The movement not only helped women in academia but also contributed to the fight against racial discrimination in the US. The video recommends reading Silvia García Dauder's book, 'El Olvido de las Mujeres Pioneras en la Historia de la Psicología',
Margaret Floy Washburn's work, 'The Animal Mind,' is considered a precursor to behaviorism, although her contributions are often overlooked.