Feminist Perspectives on Building a Better Psychological Science of Gender

This timely and thought-provoking collection explores the ways in which psychological science interacts with and addresses gender across varied subdisciplines in the field, from a feminist viewpoint. A particular aim of this volume is to move the conversation of gender in psychology beyond a difference-only paradigm. Veteran and emerging feminist scholars survey the handling of sex and gender issues across psychology, and describe how feminist perspectives and methodologies can and should be applied to enhance the field itself, but also in the service of social justice in the various cultures of corporations, academia, and the global stage. Contributions span theoretical advances, latest empirical findings, and real-world advocacy, with instructive and illuminating first-person accounts detailing challenges and rewards of feminist scholarship and practice in psychology. Throughout the volume, chapters document a dynamic field in its evolution from the traditional, two-dimensional study of gender-based differences to concerted multidisciplinary approaches, to cutting edge feminist theoretical and methodological advances such as intersectionality to understand gender in context. The volume is divided into three distinct sections. The first covers current theory and research in psychological science that considers gender beyond a difference-only paradigm. Then, leading feminist scholars reflect upon their own experiences in their respective subdisciplines. Finally, the third section explores innovative best practices and applications for feminist psychological science. Highlights of the coverage: • Beyond difference: Gender as a quality of social settings. • Adventures in feminist health psychology: Teaching about and conducting feminist psychological science. • Mind the thigh gap? Bringing feminist psychological science to the masses. • Feminist psychologists and institutional change in universities. With its stimulating compilation of theories, research, and applications, Feminist Perspectives On Building A Better Psychological Science of Gender is one of the most forward-thinking and innovative treatments of the field in recent years. It is a significant and important text for all psychologists, women’s and gender studies specialists, social science researchers, and all those interested in using evidence-based psychological science to create a more just and equitable world. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Building a Better Psychological Science of Gender: Reflections on Theory, Research, and Action....Pages 1-5 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 Scientific Weightism: A View of Mainstream Weight Stigma Research Through a Feminist Lens....Pages 9-28 Death and the Real Girl: The Impact of Mortality Salience on Men’s Attraction to Women as Objects....Pages 29-42 Embodiment and Well-Being: The Embodied Journeys of Girls and Women....Pages 43-60 Feminist Perspectives on Gender Development: Contributions to Theory and Practice....Pages 61-78 Feminism and the Study of Masculinity: Unlikely Bedfellows?....Pages 79-97 Gendered Autobiographical Memory: Feminist Approaches to Theory and Method....Pages 99-120 The Development of Other-Gender Interactions: Behavioral, Biological, Cognitive, and Contextual Influences....Pages 121-139 Front Matter....Pages 141-141 Digging Deeper: Research Practices and Recommendations for Exploring Intersectionality and Social and Cultural Influences on Personality, Identity, and Well-Being....Pages 143-160 Adventures in Feminist Health Psychology: Teaching about and Conducting Feminist Psychological Science....Pages 161-177 Intersectionality: Infusing I-O Psychology with Feminist Thought....Pages 179-197 Voicing Academia: Developmental Psychology and the Loss of Voice....Pages 199-212 New Perspectives on Gender and Emotion....Pages 213-230 Beyond Difference: Gender as a Quality of Social Settings....Pages 231-254 Front Matter....Pages 255-255 Replacing Sexy and Skinny with Strong and Powerful: How Feminist Research on Media Depictions of Women Can Effect Change....Pages 257-274 Mind the Thigh Gap? Bringing Feminist Psychological Science to the Masses....Pages 275-293 Transnational Feminism in Psychology: Moving Beyond Difference to Investigate Processes of Power at the Intersection of the Global and Local....Pages 295-318 Feminist Psychologists and Institutional Change in Universities....Pages 319-332 Walking the Walk: Conducting Feminist Community-Based Research....Pages 333-352 The Benefits and Risks of Feminist Practice as Early Career Scholars in Social Psychology....Pages 353-379 Front Matter....Pages 255-255 Journeys Through Feminist Psychological Science: Lessons Learned and a Look to What Lies Ahead....Pages 381-388 Back Matter....Pages 389-391