Final answer:
Feminist critiques of early psychological approaches include issues like the reinforcement of gender bias, pathologization of female experiences, the reinforcement of traditional gender roles, and the use of male-centric research samples. Feminist psychology works to challenge these biases by re-evaluating women's contributions and questioning male bias in psychological science.
Step-by-step explanation:
Feminist Critiques of Early Psychological Approaches
Feminist critiques of early psychological approaches are rooted in the historical underrepresentation and mischaracterization of women within the field. These critiques include:
- Gender Bias: Early psychological approaches often overlooked the influence of gender on mental health, resulting in a reinforcement of gender stereotypes and neglect of women's specific health needs.
- Pathologization of Female Experiences: Normal female experiences such as menstruation and childbirth were often viewed as pathological, further perpetuating stigmas.
- Reinforcement of Gender Roles: Feminists argue that early theories reinforced traditional gender roles and expectations, thereby limiting women's roles to those of companions and mothers.
- Limited Research Generalizability: The prevalence of male-centric research samples severely limited the applicability of psychological findings to the experiences and mental health of women.
Feminist psychology seeks to rectify these biases by re-evaluating women's contributions to psychology, challenging gender differences, and questioning the male bias that has been historically present in the practice of psychological science. Prominent figures such as Margaret Floy Washburn and Mary Whiton Calkins, despite their significant contributions, faced obstacles due to their gender. Moreover, societal attitudes reflected in medical diagnoses reveal a persistent bias that associates femininity with unhealthiness or instability, further validating feminist critiques of psychology.