Swinging Pendulums

Comments on the article by M. E. Kite et al (see record 2001-10045-002), which summarized the findings and recommendations of the Task Force on the Status of Women in Academe. According to the present author, the task force report represents only one viewpoint, a particularly politicized viewpoint at that, and one that is not shared by all women (or men) in psychology. Further, the report conveys the unfortunate and dangerous impression that women are not able to succeed in academia unless they are awarded special treatment. The present author addresses the following themes that permeate the task force report: (1) differences in outcomes necessarily mean gender bias; (2) women need special nurturing to succeed in academia; (3) women should receive preferences in hiring; and (4) women should not be expected to achieve international reputations. Because the task force report went beyond merely summarizing the status of women to making recommendations (81 total), and because these recommendations carry the imprimatur of the American Psychological Association and thus the remote possibility they might actually affect some institution's policies, they warrant special scrutiny. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)