Women's Intellectual Contributions to the Study of Mind and Society

Students, as part of an advanced seminar, examined and wrote about the lives of these women, their intellectual contributions, and the unique impact and special problems that being female had on their careers.
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Phyllis Chesler: Feminine Psychologist

Phyllis Chesler is a pioneer feminine psychologist. She was born in the late 1930's early 1940's to her mother Lillian (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995; Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.). She says that she had few female role models as a child (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). The only women she noticed who had college degrees were women in "feminine" careers, like nurses (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995).

Chesler taught one of the first accredited women's studies classes at Richmond College in New York during the 1969-1970 school-year (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). During the same year she founded the Association for Women in Psychology (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.). During her time at Richmond College (now CUNY) Chesler established many services for her female students (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). Because of her, self-defense classes, a rape crisis center, and a child center were developed (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). Unfortunately, despite of all her work to better the college, Chesler was often denied promotions and opportunities at Richmond (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). She had to fight accusations that she ignored her students, and did not act "motherly" enough to them (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). During this time she was writing constantly and very busy with other projects, she had little time to devote solely to her students (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). Though she was writing constantly, these works were not enough to gain Chesler much respect from her colleagues (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). She was told that she wrote the wrong sorts of thing to gain respect and promotion (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). All of Chesler's works are about women, a topic not taken seriously by many.

Because of these grievances against the school Chesler and other women professors experienced, a lawsuit was filed against the school (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). Though they won, women at the college were still underpaid and often mocked (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). Chesler says that actions such as this and other forms of female activism have caused her to be denied opportunities (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995).

Written works

Chesler wrote her first book, Women and Madness, in 1972 (Chesler, 1997). Since this time she has written nine other books and many articles for both professional and mass media journals (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.). She constantly fights to keep publishing her works and to keep her older books in print (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). Chesler wants all women to have the opportunity to read her feminine psychology and to better themselves (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995).

Women and Madness

Chesler calls Women and Madness the most popular of feminist works; it is a heavily sited work (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). The books talks about the myths of mental illness in women (Chesler, 1997). It covers women of different races, classes, and sexual preferences (Chesler, 1997). Chesler says in her book that, because women have different problems than men, their problems are often viewed as mental illnesses while men's are considered "normal" (Chesler, 1997). She also looks at women's roles in classical myths and at heroines such as Joan of Arc (Chesler, 1997).

With Child

In 1979 Chesler published With Child (Chesler, 1979). This book is dedicated and written to her son, Ariel (Chesler, 1979). She writes about her experiences in pregnancy and early motherhood (Chesler, 1979). It tells about her feelings and how her relationships with friends began to dwindle because she had a child (Chesler, 1979).

Women, Money and Power

Women, Money and Power, published in 1976, is a combined work of Chesler and Emily Jane Goodman (Chesler & Goodman, 1976). They wanted to write a book on women power in society, because there is little work on this topic (Chesler & Goodman, 1976). Women are oppressed by males and used to gain male power (Chesler & Goodman, 1976). Because of this, women have little likelihood to succeed in the world; they must fight for every right (Chesler & Goodman, 1976). The work looks at women's struggle to survive in the male dominated society and how they try to gain both money and power (Chesler & Goodman, 1976).

Woman's Inhumanity to Woman

In Woman's Inhumanity to Woman (2002), Chesler looks at how women do damage to themselves and others (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.). She claims that women's sexism to themselves causes many of women's problems (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.). Women also distrust each other and tend to look more to men as leaders rather than each other (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.). The book also discuses ways women can work to stop sexism and support one another (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.).

Legal Work

Phyllis Chesler has served as an expert witness in trials (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). She has several areas of expertise as an expert witness (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.). She has spoken on abuse, sexual harassment, rape, family violence, discrimination, and women's family rights (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.).

Phyllis Chesler is a very busy feminist psychologist. She serves on many advisory boards and has helped to found several associations (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.). In 1979-1980 she even arranged a United Nations international feminist conference (Chesler, Rothblum, & Cole, 1995). Chesler has also made guest appearances on television channels such as CNN and Court TV, and different shows like Oprah and the Washington Journal (Phyllis Chesler, PhD. n.d.).

Works Cited

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