Question

In which subfield of psychology did most women earn their ph.ds in 1974, 1990, and 2005?

Answer 1

Women and men differ in their career choices both across and within fields, and psychology is no exception. Although subfield segregation has been reduced over the years, subfield differences persist (see Table 1). For example, in 2002, 82.7% of PhDs in developmental psychology were awarded to women, while only 56.2.% of PhDs in experimental psychology were awarded to women. (We excluded comparative, psychometrics, quantitative, and personality because of the small number of graduates: 7, 13, 8, and 23, respectively.) However, of new PhDs awarded in psychology in 2002, women earned more than 50% across all subfields (again, excluding comparative, psychometrics, quantitative, and personality). Unfortunately, the increasing number and proportions of psychologists who are women have not translated into equal professional participation across various subfields and leadership positions within psychology.