|
Results of the Committee on Women in Psychologys 1996 Questionnaire: Summary
|
|
SUMMARY
Women are actively involved as members and leaders of divisions, state,
provincial and territorial, and regional psychological associations. Women’s
membership in APA has increased to 47%; however, their representation in most of the
divisions and state psychological associations has not reached that level. Their
representation seems to be somewhat better in the state, provincial and territorial
psychological associations than in divisions (i.e., 34% of the state, provincial and
territorial associations, as compared to only 12% of the divisions, indicated percentages
of female members as high or higher than the 47% membership of women in the APA). Only
one-third of the regional psychological associations were able to provide information on
the gender representation of members.
Women have held leadership positions in all divisions, state
psychological associations and regional psychological associations, including president,
executive committee member, or committee chair. In terms of the highest position,
president, all organizations responding had had at least one woman president within the
last 10 years with the exception of Divisions 12 and 49, British Columbia, Nevada and Nova
Scotia. Women have been more likely to be elected to the presidency in divisions than in
state associations (11 of the divisions have had at least 50% women presidents over the
last 10 years as compared to four state psychological associations; 66.6% of the regional
psychological associations had 50% or more women presidents).
Women seem to be faring better in the state, provincial and territorial
psychological associations than regional psychological asociations or divisions with
regard to women’s participation on executive committees; 14 of 32 (43.8%) of the
state psychological associations as compared to 2 of 6 (33.3%) of the regional
psychological associations and 9 of 33 (27.3%) of the divisions had executive committees
composed of 50% or more women. Women are also doing slightly better in the state
psychological associations as chairs of permanent committees. Fifty percent of state,
provincial and territorial associations and 45% of divisions have 50% or more of their
permanent committees chaired by women. Regional psychological associations had fewer
committees, but 50% of these groups had 50% or more of their committees chaired by women.
Divisions and state psychological associations are addressing
women’s issues and/or gender equity through a number of different avenues including
formal committees, divisions or sections, ad hoc or informal committees and task forces,
and other mechanisms. Few divisions, states or regional psychological associations have
mentoring programs.
Results of this survey of 274 psychological associations reveal that
women are involved in all aspects of leadership in divisions, state, provincial and
territorial, as well as regional psychological associations. However, a cursory view of
women’s membership in most divisions is much lower than their membership in the APA.
Individuals can join APA without joining a division. The difference in representation
shows that women are less likely than their male counterparts to join divisions. It is
through divisional membership within APA that members are elected to the Council of
Representatives and to the Board of Directors - - key leadership positions in the
association. We need to encourage women to join divisions and to be more actively
involved. Women have made tremendous advances in leadership, but numerous opportunities
still exist. It is critical that we seize these opportunities as women continue to be a
larger percentage of the psychologist population. Increasing the number and effectiveness
of women leaders is critical not only to respond to the growing number of women
psychologists but to maintain the prestige, financial remuneration and vibrance of the
field.
This survey was an attempt to obtain information on women’s
participation in the leadership of divisions, state, provincial and territorial
psychological associations and regional psychological associations. Until this survey,
little information was available on women leaders except within the APA governance
structure (see Women in the American Psychological Association, 1998). Because the
survey sought information from organizational representatives directly, it is therefore
subject to the restrictions of any self report survey; however, it provides a first step.
RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
