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Results of the Committee on Women in Psychology 1996 Questionnaire: APA Divisions
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Questionnaires were mailed to presidents of each of APA’s 49
divisions. Thirty-three divisions returned the survey, for a division response rate of
67%. Twenty-four of the completed questionnaires (75%) were filled out by the division
presidents.
See Table 1.
The APA membership statistics published in February 1997 show that
women comprised a total of 38,706 (47%) of the fellows, members and associate members
within the association. Although women currently represent almost one-half of the
membership in APA, that same percentage is reflected in only four (12%) of the division
memberships (Divisions 7, 16, 35, 44) as shown in Table 1. As
might be expected, the only division with an overwhelming majority of female members is
Division 35 (Psychology of Women) with women comprising 97.8% of the total membership.
Nine out of the 33 Divisions that responded to the questionnaire reported that their
executive board/committee is comprised of 50% or more women (Divisions 9, 16, 17, 20, 27,
35, 42, 43, 48). Division 35's executive board/committee is made up of all women. Seven
divisions have 30% or less women who serve on their executive board/committee (Divisions
6, 12, 13, 18, 26, 33, 40).
When leadership positions were examined within divisions, Division 35
again led respondents with all of Division 35's presidents in the last 10 years having
been women, while Divisions 2, 7, 9, 31, and 36 each have had six women presidents in 10
years (the next highest percentage). Five divisions (Divisions 16, 17, 20, 34, 44) report
that half of their presidents in the last 10 years have been women. Eight divisions have
had only one woman president in 10 years (Divisions 13, 18, 21, 24, 30, 40, 41, 48).
Within the last 10 years, Division 12 and Division 49 (in its sixth year) have had no
women presidents.
Fifteen divisions (45% of respondents) report that 50% or more of their
permanent committees are currently chaired by women (Divisions 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 20,
21, 31, 35, 42, 43, 44, and 48).
The survey assessed whether and how Divisions address women's issues
and/or issues of gender equity. Seven of the divisions (21%) have a formal committee to
address women's issues and/or gender equity; two (6%) have a division/section on women;
one (3%) has an informal committee; nine (27%) indicate that ad hoc committees or task
forces might be created to address the issue(s); seven (21%) did not respond to the
question; and ten (30%) responded in an "other" category which included the
following answers:
- a topic coordinator on gender equity (Division 9)
- no concern/has not been an issue (Divisions 2 and 31)
- a working group on feminism (Division 48)
- concerned in respect to research on older women but not to division governance (Division
20)
- we make sure it is an issue (Division 8)
- total focus of the division (Division 35)
- informally (Division 7)
- grassroots recruitment and encouragement for increased participation of women (Division
22)
- bylaws specify gender balance (Division 44)
Another indicator of involvement in the Division and a way to gain
visibility is through participation in annual/biannual meetings and conferences. The
survey queries Divisions about women's participation in these activities. "Does your
organization have an annual/biannual meeting/conference?" Twenty-six of the divisions
(79%) reported that they held an annual/biannual meeting/conference; six (18%) said that
they did not; and one (3%) did not respond to the question.
The extent to which divisions were planning to include programs
addressing issues specifically related to women at their next meeting/conference and APA
convention was minimal. Only seven of the divisions (21%) said that they were including
programs related to women at their next meeting/conference (Divisions 8, 9, 13, 35, 41,
43, 44) and one division said probably (Division 27). Twelve of the divisions (36%) said
they were including programs related to women as part of their divisional activities at
the APA convention and one division said maybe. The percentage of hours dedicated to these
issues was only reported by 9 divisions: Division 35 said 100% of their hours and the
other eight divisions reported 20% or less of their hours.
Incorporating programs addressing women's equity into their next
meeting/conference was stated to be an important consideration for only two divisions
(6%), Division 35 and Division 36. Five of the divisions (15%) said women's equity would
be addressed at the APA convention: Divisions 9, 35, 36, 43, 48. Only two divisions
estimated the percentage of hours dedicated to these issues with Psychology of Women (Div.
35) reporting 100% and Psychology of Religion (Div. 36) reporting 6%.
The importance of mentoring in professional and leadership development
has long been recognized. In light of the critical role of mentoring, presidents were
asked if their organization had implemented a mentoring program. Twenty-five divisions
(76%) said no, six (18%) said yes and include Divisions 2, 7, 9, 32, 36, 42. Some
divisions provided additional feedback on the implementation of their division’s
mentoring program:
- mentoring program for both men and women (Division 2)
- program not earmarked for women in particular (Division 7)
- targets racial/ethnic minority members (Division 9)
- informal program (Division 22)
- in developmental stages but will be mindful that women are represented (Division 31)
- "sort of, with no success" (Division 35)
- "In 1996, six awards were given out for mentoring within Division 36. The incoming
executive board was encouraged to continue a mentoring program within Division 36"
(Division 36)
- not formally (Division 48)
The limited number of programs addressing women’s issues at
meetings and conferences (especially for divisions) represents a missed opportunity to
address the changing dynamics of the discipline and to increase the visibility and
attention to women’s issues.
Information provided by division presidents or other division
representatives reveals that women are involved in all segments of division leadership.
However, their representation in the divisions does not match their numbers or percentage
in the APA membership. That is, while 47% of the APA membership is female, only four of
the 33 divisions with valid survey responses had that level of women members. Women are
making inroads into division leadership, with nine of the 33 divisions having 50% or more
women on their executive committees and five divisions (other than Division 35) having six
women presidents in the last ten years.
Almost half of the divisions responding report 50% or more of their
permanent committees chaired by women. Unfortunately, programming on women’s issues
and/or women’s equity at meetings/conferences was minimal. Likewise, few divisions
had implemented mentoring programs.
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