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