Question

What happened to Mary Whiton Calkins at Harvard University? And how did that impact her life?

a. Denied a degree; led to pioneering work in psychology
b. Accepted as the first female student; led to a successful political career
c. Expelled due to gender discrimination; pursued a career in law
d. Honored with a scholarship; became a prominent writer

Answer 1

Mary Whiton Calkins was denied a PhD by Harvard due to gender discrimination but still became a pioneering psychologist and the first female president of the American Psychological Association.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mary Whiton Calkins experienced significant gender discrimination at Harvard University. Despite completing all requirements for a PhD in psychology, Harvard refused to award her the degree solely because she was a woman. Nonetheless, Calkins went on to become an eminent psychologist, contributing significantly to the fields of psychology and philosophy. Her research into memory and self-psychology was pioneering, and she established one of the first experimental psychology laboratories in the United States. In 1905, she became the first female president of the American Psychological Association, an accomplishment that underscored her outstanding contributions to the discipline despite the institutional barriers she faced.