About Us | DIV35

Division 35
Society for the Psychology of Women

The Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35) serves as a welcoming community for feminists of all genders and backgrounds who are dedicated to the teaching, research, and practice of psychology as it relates to women. In order to reflect our commitment to inclusivity, we use the term "womxn" to encompass the diverse identities and experiences of individuals who identify as women, recognizing that factors such as ethnicity, culture, language, socioeconomic status, age, and sexual orientation shape these experiences.

Our division is passionate about advancing feminist research, theories, education, and practices that seek to better understand and improve the lives of girls and womxn in all their diversity. We encourage scholarship that examines the social construction of gender across various cultural contexts, and we aim to transform the knowledge base of psychology. Through advocacy, we work toward public policies that promote equality, social justice, and the empowerment of WOMXN in leadership roles at community, national, and global levels.

All About Us

THE ORIGINS AND ACTIVITIES OF APA’s
DIVISION OF THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN

In 1904, Christine Ladd-Franklin, a pioneering advocate for women's academic rights, famously stated, “women have not yet been given representation in proportion to their attainment”. Although she was referencing the lack of women in professorships, this sentiment also applied to the field of psychology, particularly within the American Psychological Association (APA). It wasn't until the 1970s, as second-wave feminism gained momentum, that women in psychology began to envision real change. During this time, many believed that the Equal Rights Amendment was within reach and that women in the field would finally have a voice in the professional world.

Through the tireless work of feminist groups like the Association for Women in Psychology (AWP) and the APA Committee on Women in Psychology, the Division of the Psychology of Women (Division 35) was established in the early 1970s (Astin, 1973). The first president for the Division 35 was Elizabeth Douvan, PhD, (1973-74 pro term). As Division 35 emerged, it became clear that its formation had a specific purpose: to create a platform within the APA for women’s voices to be heard. Initially, Division 35 worked alongside the Committee on Women in Psychology, which focused on monitoring women's status in the field, while the AWP functioned as an advocacy group outside the APA structure, and the Division focused on advancing research into women's psychology (Warren, 1973). While these efforts were initially distinct, the groups' efforts soon converged as they tackled the challenges of working within a male-dominated field. The task of negotiating power imbalances, dismantling patriarchal structures, and challenging androcentric theories was far from easy. Many women in the field struggled with finding the balance between political activism and professional identity. But as the division grew, so did the realization that women’s needs could not be understood within a singular, homogeneous framework. This led to the creation of several task forces, representing the diverse experiences of women from various racial, cultural, and sexual backgrounds.

In the late 1970s, the Task Force on Black Women’s Concerns was formed, followed by other task forces focused on Hispanic, Asian, and Lesbian/Bisexual women’s issues. These task forces evolved into fully recognized sections within Division 35, providing a more inclusive and nuanced representation of women’s experiences within psychology.

Throughout the years, Division 35 has navigated both growth and challenges. The journey has been one of resilience and transformation—acknowledging that while progress has been made, the work is far from finished. As we continue to move forward, Division 35 embraces a new chapter, focused not on raising our voices through protest, but on sharing our collective wisdom and expertise with authority and influence at the highest levels of psychology and society.

The journey is ongoing, and we are just getting started.

References Banks, M. E. (2008) Kicking off 35 is 35. The Feminist Psychologist, 35(4). 1-2. Basow, S. A., et al. (2007). Handbook of the Society for the Psychology of Women. Division 35: Society for the Psychology of Women. Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://www.apa.org/divisions/div35/Hndbk%20Rev%205-07.pdf Ladd-Franklin, C. (1904) Endowed professorships for women. Publications of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, 3(9) 53-61. Retrieved November 15, 2008, from http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Ladd-Franklin/professorships.htm Mednick, M. T., & Urbanski, L. L. (1991). The origins and activities of the APA’s division of the psychology of women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 15. 651-663. Mednick, M. T. S. (1978). Now we are four: What should we be when we grow up? Psychology of Women Quarterly, 3(2). 123-138. Rutherford, A. (2007). Thirty years of advocacy and activism in the section on the psychology of black women. The Feminist Psychologist, 34(1). 16. Russo, N. F., & Dumont, B. A. (1997). A history of Division 35 (psychology of women): Origins, issues, activities, future. In D.A. Dewsbury (Ed.), Unification through division: Histories of the divisions of the APA, V.II. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Astin, H. S., et al. (1973). Report on the task force on the status of women in psychology. American Psychologist, 28(7). 611-616. Walsh, M. R. (1985). Academic professional women organizing for change: The struggle in psychology. Journal of Social Issues, 41(4), 17-28.

Our Division 35 Team

The leadership team of Division 35 is deeply committed to upholding feminist principles, fostering equity, and advancing psychological science and practice with integrity and purpose. Guided by a shared dedication to inclusion, advocacy, and collaboration, we work to ensure the effective and impactful operation of the Division. Our goal is to support and amplify diverse voices, cultivate spaces for meaningful dialogue, and drive initiatives that empower women and other marginalized groups in psychology.

"Self-consciousness is just an elaborate trick for achieving social adaptation."
— Mary Whiton Calkins

This spirit of authenticity and courage continues to inspire our leadership and our mission.