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.

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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.

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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.

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

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