Lectures on the Psychology of Women

by Joan C. Chrisler

Designed as a supplement in courses on the psychology of women, the psychology of gender, and gender-role development, this collection of short, accessible lectures, written by experienced and committed teachers, spotlights topics that often receive less in-depth coverage in core textbooks. While topically arranged to align with standard texts, each "favorite lecture" stands essentially instructors can assign the readings to meet their own course needs. Among the student-friendly features are the informal writing styles, with each author speaking directly to the reader; questions and ideas that encourage critical thinking; and biographical statements and photographs that introduce each contributor. The authors represent a variety of personal backgrounds and experiences, but they believe in the importance of gender equality. To that point, the book addresses common feminist themes, including the social construction of gender, power, the value of diversity, inclusive language, the global status of women, and the value of social activism. Table of I. STATUS OF WOMEN 1. Transforming the Debate on Sexual Inequality(Bem) 2. Who's In and Who's Out (Ostenson) 3. Poor Women in a Wealthy Nation (Belle) 4. Sex Discrimination at Work (Crosby) 5. Feminist Perspectives on the Personal and Political Aspects of Mothering (Hall) 6. Gender Socialization, Or How Long a Way Has Baby Come? (Basow) II. WOMEN'S BODIES 7. Sweating It Out (Hall) 8. Women, Weight, and Body Image (Smith) 9. The Intersexed and the Transgendered (Golden) 10. PMS as a Culture-Bound Syndrome (Chrisler) 11. Understanding Emotional Responses after Abortion (Russo) 12. Women with Disabilities (Olkin) 13. The Health Risks of Being Black, Latina, Woman, and/or Poor (Bowleg) III. DIVERSITY OF WOMEN 14. Asian American Women and Adolescent Girls (Chan) 15. Life as a Lesbian (Garnets) 16. Gender Issues among Latinas (Castañeda) 17. Triple Jeopardy in the Lives of Biracial Black/White Women (Gillem) 18. Mammy, Jezebel, Sapphire, and Their Homegirls (West) 19. Crossing the Color Line in Women's Friendships (Rose) IV. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 20. Women's Fear of Rape (Rozee) 21. Women and Pornography (Scott) 22. Battered Women (Stahly) V. WOMEN S MENTAL HEALTH 23. Positive Aging for Women (Gergen) 24. A Feminist Approach to Agoraphobia (McHugh) Titles of related interest also from Waveland Crawford-Unger, In Our Own Writings from Women s Lives, Second Edition (ISBN 9781577664901) and Lips, A New Psychology of Gender, Culture, and Ethnicity, Fourth Edition (ISBN 9781478631880).

Genres: Psychology, Feminism, Nonfiction

417 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Joan C. Chrisler, PhD, is The Class of ’43 Professor Emerita of Psychology at Connecticut College, USA. She is the founding editor of the journal Women’s Reproductive Health, co-author of Woman’s Embodied Self: Feminist Perspectives on Identity and Image, and author of dozens of articles and chapters on women’s embodiment and health.

Reviews

[Lote Š. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I scanned this book so I could have it even after I finish the class. This is how much I liked it. Read it.

[Farrahnanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has 5 chapters and there are sub-chapters in every chapter. I love the first chapter, especially the second sub-chapter which titled "Who's in And Who's out; The Results of Oppression." But I really don't like the 5th sub-chapter in second chapter, It was about an emotional response after abortion. I was trying to finish that sub-chapter but I couldn't. It ruined my mood because it was like, "we are better do abortion than let a negative emotional implies to us, to women, for the unwanted pregnancy". No, just no... I was shocked. It's even hard for me to move to my-supposed-to-be-favorite chapter, about lesbianism.
I'm still trying to read this book til finish. Just because I don't agree with one or two the lectures, it doesn't mean I oppose this book. Still a good read tho.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in reading about various dilemmas faced by women in society, this is the book for you. Psychologists such as Stahli, Bem, McHugh, and Enns address various issues such as why battered women remain in abusive relationships, the role of cultural background in socializing, fear of rape, agoraphobia (fear of leaving the home), and the effect of gender in the classroom. I found the book to be informative and clear and would recommend it to anyone interested in feminism and the behavior of women from psychological perspectives.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently reading this and it is awesome! These chicks can really dish the dirt on sexism in America. I have always considered myself a liberated and informed woman; until now. I have learned so much more from this book about methods our society uses to keep women powerless. I would recommend this book to every human! There is power in equality for all! Now if I could just get rid of my addiction to make-up...