Essay On Ordinary Women In Psychology

As I walked into Sachsenhausen (“Saxon’s Houses” concentration camp in Germany), I was in disbelief. Here I am, walking on the same land as three-hundred thousand human beings treaded on (Châtel). I walked into the exhibit in hopes to comfort my mind with inspirational survivor stories, but the atmosphere in the exhibit, at first, felt colder than the icy weather outside. At this moment, I was face to face with the men and women behind this horrid camp. I quickly glanced at the individuals’ concise story expecting to read about their dark past, but instead I learned that many of these individuals [Nazis] were ordinary, everyday people. Just like me. The phrase “they were ordinary people” replayed in mind for days. They were neither criminals nor sadists, so what changed? How could an ordinary citizen suddenly accept the genocide of millions of people who were their [Nazis] neighbors, friends, and co-workers? So many questions entered my mind.
Previously, I was taught to believe these individuals were mentally ill or “sick” monsters, but they were ordinary people.
I found it strange that I was afraid to encounter a group of individuals who had committed heinous crimes, but simultaneously amazed that they were actual human beings desperately trying to uplift Germany. With the help of social conditioning (propaganda), the Nazi party believed that their despicable actions were justified in the name of their country. So to many people, they are heroes, but as we all know “history is written by the victors” (Walter Benjamin). From my experience is Sachsenhausen, I was able to discover my love for psychology. I would like to double major in Behavioral Psychology and History with a minor in Marketing. I am still deciding on whether I want to spend the rest of my life in the research field or business field of psychology, but I do know my possibilities are endless. Although my opportunities in psychology are numerous, it was a time in history in which seeing a woman pursue a degree in psychology was rare.
In the early 1900’s, psychology classes were predominantly males. This slanted gender ratio was due to the fact that most females were expected to start a family in their early twenties with the belief of “The female… is here as someone's keeper — her husband's or her children's." (Cootz). If a female was able to pursue a higher education degree, her aspiration was to become a school teacher or a nurse while keeping in mind her first concern should be tending to her husband and children (“Working Women in the 1930s”).
During World War 2, most men were drafted into the war. This left women alone at home and forced to become the breadwinners to support their family. In result, the women’s workforce consisted of four million former housewives out of the six in a half million (“Women in the Mid-2oth Century”). After the war, men returned to their pre-war jobs, while women produced the baby-boomer era.
Fast forwarding one decade later, women begin to have more control on when their family began. In result of the birth control pill approval by the federal government in 1960, women could decrease their chances of unwanted pregnancies (Walsh). Furthermore, in the wake of “the women autonomy era”, women felt more free to place their education before their “domestic duties”, which gave women a chance to pursue a career at an earlier age in life. Also, women had more freedom to pursue careers in Psychology, however, there were individuals that attempted to deter these women from pursuing a higher degree.
Most times, parents or relatives attempted to pressure the female into starting a family. In an interview with Dr. Myrna Shure, the creator of I Can Problem Solve (ICPS), she received her Masters and Doctorate in Psychology from Cornell University in 1965. When she was conflicted on pursuing her Masters, her father and undergraduate professor told her she needed to learn how to cook and should focus on getting married. Luckily, Dr. Shure’s aunt was able to help her decide on her educational path.
My professor and a woman of color, Dr. Danette Morrison is an inspiration to women, especially me, pursuing a psychology degree. Dr. Morrison shows that with a strong mind and determination no one can hinder your goals. Also, being a minority and mastering the field helps other of women of color feel comfortable to follow likewise. Similarly to Dr. Shure, Dr. Morrison has dealt with an individual who did not understand why she should pursue a doctorate degree, but Dr. Morrison did not let that stop her from following her dreams.
Other challenges women in psychology faced help demonstrate their resilience.
In an interview with my professor, Dr. Marlin Killen, she displayed her resilience when sharing her challenges, she faced. From encountering a man who believed one could cure cancer if they believed they can, Dr. Killen began to crave learning about the psyche. Through her education and many experiences, she was able to work in the industrial and organizational psychology field, in which she was one of the very few women in the field at the time. Although Dr. Killen’s mother thought of her daughter pursuing a doctorate degree was horrible and wanted Dr. Killen to become a Librarian or Kindergarten Teacher, her mother was proud of Dr. Killen’s achievements. All in all, Dr. Killen has shown that a woman in psychology is able to have a family, be a full-time mother, have a profession, and be a person
simultaneously
I am grateful for the opportunity to have met a few of many influential women in psychology: Dr. Shure, Dr. Killen, and Dr. Morrison. Hearing their stories was truly an inspirational experience. I worried that if my path to success was cracked, my opportunities would become limited. So I am relieved to know their journeys were unpredictable, and from their uncertainty, they were able to enjoy all their life-changing experiences. To conclude, I look forward to one day pursuing my doctorate in psychology and being a positive role model for other women in psychology.