Inequity for Women in Psychology: How Much Have We Progressed and What Work Still Needs to Be Done?

Despite the higher rate of women in the field of psychology, there continue to be significant inequities that impact women’s career trajectories. This is especially prevalent in academia and leadership roles in psychological organizations. A historical review and analysis of past barriers and obstacles to women’s success in psychology will be provided, followed by current trends. While many have worked to understand the source of these disparities, significant institutional and systemic societal barriers continue to persist. It will be argued that the field of psychology needs to work more diligently to assuage the barriers that result in inequitable treatment and career opportunity. In regard to historical approaches to gender equity in psychology, the field of psychology has continued to use similar attempts aimed at the individual level to correct the inequity with little success and a more systemic shift is needed