A Review of Psychology of Women Textbooks: Focus on the Afro-American Woman

Brown, Anita; Goodwin, Beverly J.; Hall, Barbara; Jackson-Lowman, Huberta

doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1985.tb00858.x

Cited by 30 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The current study found that images of women and people of color support a narrow or stereotypical view of these groups, which is similar to prior research (Allen & Wallace, 2010;Baro & Eigenberg, 1993;Clawson & Kegler, 2000;Curry, 2001;Dorworth & Henry, 1992;Eigenberg & Baro, 1994;Ferree & Hall, 1990;Greene, Gabbidon, & Ebersole, 2001;Low & Sherrard, 1999). And, the overwhelming absence of images of women of color is consistent with studies that have looked at this issue specifically (Brown et al, 1985;Curry, 2001;Eigenberg & Baro, 1994;Ferree & Hall, 1990;Hogben & Waterman, 1997). In general, this study confirmed that women and people of color are underrepresented in terms of total individuals and that how they are portrayed continues to reinforce traditional views about race and gender.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Marginalization and Invisibility of Women of Color

Eigenberg

Park

2015

Race and Justice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines images in 23 textbooks published between 2008 and 2012 to analyze the interactive effects of race and gender. Pictures were analyzed to determine the visual presence White men, White women, men of color, and women of color have in textbook images. The race and gender of individuals were examined and categorized into three prominent status categories in the field: as criminals, professionals, and victims. The results are compared to a similar study conducted 20 years ago. Overall, the findings show that there is improvement as White males have less visual dominance than previously reported; however, images still reinforce the notion that White men are most often professionals, White women are victims, and men of color are criminals. Women of color remain invisible and lack a significant visual presence of any kind.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…The absence of women of color was also specifically noted in another study that analyzed psychology of women textbooks. This study found that African American women generally were absent or discussed in a token fashion compared to White women (Brown et al, 1985).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 93%

Marginalization and Invisibility of Women of Color

Eigenberg

Park

2015

Race and Justice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Implications of incorporating the contents for other courses in the psychology curriculum are discussed.Eighteen of the 28 textbooks on the psychology of women reviewed by Brown, Goodwin, Hall, and Jackson-Lowman (1985) contained few or no references to Afro-American women. W e offer a possible structure for including this content by organizing the course discussions around major themes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eighteen of the 28 textbooks on the psychology of women reviewed by Brown, Goodwin, Hall, and Jackson-Lowman (1985) contained few or no references to Afro-American women. Asian.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Scholarship on Ethnicity into the Psychology of Women Course

DeFour

Paludi

1991

Teaching of Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article presents the argument that instructors of courses in the psychology of women need to integrate the scholarship on ethnicity into their curriculum. W e offer a possible structure for including this content by organizing the course discussions around major themes. The course consists of presentations based on these themes. Examples of films, topics, exercises, and popular books to be used are presented. Implications of incorporating the contents for other courses in the psychology curriculum are discussed.Eighteen of the 28 textbooks on the psychology of women reviewed by Brown, Goodwin, Hall, and Jackson-Lowman (1985) contained few or no references to Afro-American women. Asian. Native American. and His~anic women received even less attention. Brown et al. proposed steps to rectify this problem, including balancing the women's studies curriculum for race and ethnic it^ and developing a comprehensive and integrative study of the psychology of women that reflects the importance of cultural, racial, and social class variables.T h e goals for the psychology of women course we describe in this article are tailored to the combination of students at various stages in developing their identities (see Paludi, 1986. for a detailed descri~tion of develo~mental considerations in teaching the psychology of women course). Discussions focus on major themes in the psychology of women (adapted from Matlin, 1987): (a) male as normative, (b) double bindlambivalence issues, (c) personal is political, (d) personal choices and social scripts, (e) more similarities than differences, and (f) valuing women. Topics discussed within each of these themes are listed in Table 1. Presentations based on these major themes comprise the course. The male as normative theme refers to the androcentric bias in theories and research methodology in psychology. Discussion of this theme includes the eurocentric bias in psychological research as well (Bronstein & Quina, 1988). Double bindlambivalence issues refer to gender-role socialization Datterns that provide contradictory messages to girls and women (e.g., adolescent girls being reinforced for being sexy, but not sexual; Reid & Paludi, in press). W e discuss the personal is political theme in the following way: Women's personal interaction and interpersonal struggles have political origins. The theme we labeled bersonal choices versus social scripts suggests lifestyle choices women make (e.g., lesbian relationships, remaining single, and voluntary childlessness) that may not fit into culturally prescribed motherhood and wife mandates (Doyle & Paludi, in press;Russo, 1976). A discussion of the similarities in gender-role-related behaviors for women and men (including information from meta-analytic techniques) is provided under the theme, more similarities than differences (Hyde & Frost, in press). In the final theme, valuing women, we focus on individual, institutional, and social changes to end discrimination against women.Outlines based on these presentations are distributed at the begi...

show abstract

“…Many of these, however, have essentially defined women's experience as that of white, middle-class North American women (Brown et al 1985). There has been a noticeable improvement in the representation of racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as of women, though substantial efforts are still needed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%