Preview

Women in Psychology Paper

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1261 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Women in Psychology Paper
Women in Psychology Paper
Women have made many contributions to the advancement of psychology, many of which have gone without notice until recent times, and some of which still goes unidentified in the field of psychology. The mention of women in the early development of psychology usually refers to them as minor contributors to a field that at one time was predominantly dominated by men. “Women of the time were subject to gender and martial prejudice” (Stipkovich, 2011). One such women who thrived in the field of psychology despite of and greatly due to the discrimination women experienced in the 1900’s is Leta Hollingworth. According to “Stipkovich (2011)”, “The remarkable path Leta Hollingworth’s life took her was instrumental in becoming a significant figure in the history of psychology of woman” (Contributions to the field of Psychology).
Background
Born Leta Anna Stetter, in May of 1886 in Nebraska, she was the oldest of three children. Raised on her grandparent’s farm after her mother’s death and fathers abandonment following the birth of her youngest sibling. “Leta Stetter received her early formal education in a one-room log schoolhouse, an education she later described as "excellent in every respect" (Miller, R. 1990, para. 4). Leta graduated high school in 1902, at the age of 15 she was one of eight students in the class. In high school Leta showed a talent for creative writing which she was encouraged to develop in college.
Leta enrolled and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, “where she quickly achieved a campus reputation in literature and creative writing and was designated Class Poet of the Class of 1906” (Miller, R. 1990, p.145). While attending the university Leta met and became engaged to classmate Harry Levi Hollingworth. Harry graduated from the university before Leta and decided to do his graduate studies in New York at Columbia University, Leta stayed in Nebraska to finish her undergraduate work and graduated in 1906. Unable

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In public schools, Bonnie was an honor student. She enjoyed writing poetry and reading romance novels. In fact when…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the most striking constrasts between 1973 and 1873 is the lack of education for women. Abigail Kirk quickly learns that Beatie wants to gain an education. In the year 1873 it was uncommon for girls, especially poor girls to gain any formal education. Beatie’s thirst for knowledge encourages her to seek tuition from her brother Judah. She doesn’t enjoy the routine classes for girls at the Ragged School and wishes she could learn subjects just like the boys. Beatie is fascinated by the fact that children in Abigail’s time know her name. She wants to find out how this has come about. Abigail tells her that she believes it is because she has become famous, or at least well known. “Abigail tells Beatie that if she wants to gain anything in her time she should “…look out for yourself…How will you ever get anything if you don’t march in and bullyrag people…

    • 887 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Horrified due to her abolitionist mindset, Sarah attempts to politely decline her alleged gift, but faces chastisement from her mother. Charlotte creates leverage of Sarah’s capacity for kindness and perfidiously lures her into a burdensome obligation; to make Handful free. A thoroughly substantial relationship rather than a maid in waiting and master is developed between Handful and Sarah, “Whatever it was, I began telling Hetty confidences I’d kept only with myself” (Kidd 58). Their friendship is based off of Sarah’s willful attitude towards teaching Handful literacy skills, and rooted on Handful’s alacrity as a student. Sarah begins to teach Handful the art of reading and writing as a result of Charlotte’s obscure threat, however, a magnificent incipience of friendship is mutually created in the process, which possesses the potential to lead Handful to freedom. Based on the textual evidence, I conclude that Charlotte and Handful will secure their freedom due to Charlotte’s promise with Sarah, and Handful’s alliance with Sarah…

    • 398 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    On May 24, 1933, a role model, advocate for women’s rights, and a literary star was born. Marian Engel was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a single eighteen year old girl, and put up for adoption. Frederick Searle and Mary Elizabeth (Fletcher) Passmore adopted a beautiful baby named Ruth, who they renamed Marian. Marian spent her younger years growing up in a variety of towns across Southern Ontario as her family moved frequently for her father’s work. Engel began her education at Sarnia Collegiate Institute & Technical School in Sarnia, Ontario, and later continued on to complete a Bachelor of Arts at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She graduated from McMaster in 1955 and without hesitation, enrolled in a Master’s program for Canadian Literature at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Marian was a powerful activist for women’s rights over the years, writing books, short stories, and sharing her experiences with all who would engage. Her evident determination to succeed was first noted at the young age of ten, when her mother told her that the profession of writing was “very hard” and Marian Engel responded to her by saying, “I don’t care.” Marian grew into a strong woman, who was passionately dedicated to her work. She wrote many short stories, and novels that clearly depicted the social justice issues prevalent during her lifetime, specifically the oppression and victimization of women.…

    • 2654 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Psychology’s most famous figure is also one of the most influential and controversial thinkers of the twentieth century.…

    • 632 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Rene Descartes, Sigmund Freud, William James, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, what do these names have in common? They are all pioneers who furthered psychology, and they are all names of men. So, were there any women who contributed to psychology? Of course, there were. Mary Whiton Calkins (the American Psychological Association’s first woman president), Mary Ainsworth (known for her research in relationships between mothers and infants), and Leta Hollingsworth (known for her study on gifted children) were all great women who contributed much to psychology. Among these female greats, one woman stands out – Karen Horney.…

    • 1442 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mary Whiton Calkins was the first woman to serve as the president of the American Psychological Association in 1905. Calkins's dream was to do psychology and philosophy, but due to her time of upbringing, Harvard was the only school that accommodated her interests. In 1896, Calkins had done everything she could, by completing all requirements as such to receive her doctorate, but Harvard University denied her ability to receive her PhD in psychology, because of the fact that she was a woman (Calkins, 1908). Despite not earning a PhD, Calkins soared a teacher of psychology and philosophy, Calkins was very influential throughout her career; and through her influence she paved the way for women around the world. In Calkins's time, psychology was a relatively new field of study, and was not a widely studied subject. Psychology was also considered a branch of philosophy (Calkins, 1908).…

    • 1262 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mary Calkins

    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mary Whiton Calkins was the oldest of five children, born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 30, 1863. A Newton High School graduate, Miss Calkins went on to study at Smith College, earning two degrees, and later travelled overseas to Europe so she could study at Leipzig University. Upon her return to America, Calkins became a Greek tutor at Wellesley College. Calkins furthered her educational boundaries by studying at Harvard University, completing all courses available that would earn her a Ph.D.. However, in 1896 the school still refused to grant degrees such as that to women, so she never was titled a doctor, although many of her psychology tutors deemed her one of the most influential psychologists of her time. In 1890, six year before she “earned” her degree, she became a psychology instructor at Wellesley College and established a laboratory. It was the first psychology lab in any woman’s college of the time. In addition to these great successes, she was also the first female president of the American Philosophical Association, being elected in 1918. Mary Calkins retired in 1929 to Newton and passed away on February 26, 1930 of a serious illness. Her amazing studies in the field of psychology are not forgotten and are still studied today.…

    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    1940s

    • 3361 Words
    • 14 Pages

    The 1940s was a great period of well-known events in history. One of the most important events of the decade was World War II, which basically ruled the 1940s. World War II started on September 1, 1939 beginning with the German invasion of Poland; and Britain and France declaring war on German two days later. It was the most costly and destructive war in history and its effects, for good and ill, were felt far beyond the battlefields. After the war was over the United States entered a period of great prosperity, an increase in the birthrate produced more consumers who fueled the economy and made the United States the most powerful nation (Hills, 1958, p.56).…

    • 3361 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Half of the inherited chromes are from the mother and the other matching half are from the father.…

    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The essay is written about Margaret Flow Washburn. The essay speaks of her background from her early teenage years and progressing through her career as a psychologist, her battles of a woman during an American period where women equal rights of educational progress was not the same as men. The essay also speaks on the contributions to her field of psychology presenting theories on the animal mind and her motor theory.…

    • 1648 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Women in Psychology

    • 7718 Words
    • 31 Pages

    Prominent Women in American Psychology 'The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the two sexes is shown by man 's attaining to a higher eminence, in whatever he takes up, than can woman (Darwin). ' Darwin 's professional assumption of the intelligence of women greatly exemplified the defining opinion of the day when psychology was in its developmental stages. However, many women went to great lengths to disprove and banish this thought. One such woman was Mary Whiton Calkins. Calkins is perhaps best known for becoming the first woman president of the American Psychological Association, a feat unheard of in her time. Unfortunately, the road to achieving this feat was paved with many obstacles and discriminating persons. Mary Whiton Calkins was born on March 30, 1863. She was born in Buffalo, New York, to Wolcott Calkins, a Presbyterian minister, and was the eldest of five children. The family moved to Newton, Massachusetts, when Mary was seventeen and built a home there that she would live in until her death. Her father was fundamental to Mary 's education, designing and supervising her schooling, well aware of the sparse opportunities available to women. In 1882, she was allowed to enter into Smith College with advance standing as a sophomore. Unfortunately, her sister 's death in 1883 permanently influenced her thinking and the following year she stayed at home and received private lessons. She reentered Smith in the fall of 1884 as a senior and graduated with a concentration in classics and philosophy. In 1886, her family moved to Europe for sixteen months. Here, she was able to broaden her knowledge of the classics. After returning to Massachusetts, her father arranged for an interview for her with the president of Wellesley College. There, she was a tutor in Greek beginning in the fall of 1887 and remained in that department for three years. Fortunately, a professor in the Philosophy department noted her talent for teaching and convinced her to…

    • 7718 Words
    • 31 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Many great women contributed to psychology and the history of psychology. These women were pioneers, theorists, and counselors. Each of these women contributed in many different ways. Although many women who made significant contributions to the history of psychology between the years 1850 and 1950; of these women one woman demands attention over all the others. That woman’s name is Anna Freud. In researching Anna Freud one must consider describing her background, theoretical perspective, and contributions to the field of psychology.…

    • 1489 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    women in psychology

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Women have made many contributions to the advancement of psychology, many of which have gone without notice until recent times, and some of which still goes unidentified in the field of psychology. The mention of women in the early development of psychology usually refers to them as minor contributors to a field that at one time was predominantly dominated by men.…

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Hergenhahn, B.R and Henley, T. B. (2014). An Introduction to the History of Psychology 7th Ed.…

    • 1214 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays