Membership

Join our feminist psychologist community

The Society for the Psychology of Women (SPW) assists in securing recognition for feminist psychologists and their work, particular as it relates to the psychology of women and gender.

Div. 35 (The Society of the Psychology of Women) is a vibrant and active community of feminist psychologists, hailing from many walks of life, gender identities, racial and ethnic backgrounds and experiences. In particular, the division is dedicating to assisting students and early career psychologists as they enter the field as well as acknowledging the accomplishments of mid-career and seasoned professionals. SPW has over 2,000 members with diverse psychological career interests. Membership in APA is not required for some membership categories.

As a benefit, all society members receive the division newsletter, The Feminist Psychologist, and the journal, Psychology of Women Quarterly. Members may also participate in a variety of events and initiatives supported by the division, as well as communicate regularly with their colleagues through the division’s Listservs, social media and other channels.

Become a member

Membership Types

Regular and associate members

If applying for regular or associate membership, you must currently be a member or associate of APA. Be sure to list your name the same way as recorded by APA and include your APA membership number. Regular and associate members of the division hold comparable membership status in APA. You will have the same voting privileges as an affiliate member during your application year. Applications received before Aug. 1 each year will be presented to the Executive Committee for election to full membership beginning the following January. Thereafter, you will be billed for division dues on your annual dues statement.

As a member, you will have access to the Div. 35 journal, Psychology of Women Quarterly. For more information about membership benefits, as well as about the process to join, please review the Div. 35 membership brochure and application (PDF, 144KB).

Affiliated professional or student member

Affiliated professional and student members are persons who are not full members of APA but who have an interest in the psychology of women. Membership is for a calendar year, and affiliates and students are billed each fall for renewal.

As an affiliated professional or student member, you will be entitled to receive the division newsletter, The Feminist Psychologist, and to vote in all divisions elections except for APA.

Learn more about APA membership types

How to Join

To join SPW, apply online or download the division brochure and membership application (PDF, 174KB) and send it to the office, as indicated on the brochure, with a payment for dues for the current year.

Membership is for the calendar year. If you join before Aug. 1, you will receive back issues of the Psychology of Women Quarterly. If you join after Aug. 1, your membership will begin in January, unless you request otherwise.

After the application year, regular, associate and affiliate members will be billed as follows:

Regular and associate: $27 (on the annual APA dues statement)
Affiliated professional members: $25 (directly by the division)
Students: $15 (directly by the division)

Limited means members must request renewal in that category on an annual basis. Dues support task forces, publications, special projects and reduced fees for students and people of limited means.

Gift membership

To give a gift membership in Div. 35, complete the application, and the division will send a card notifying the recipient of the gift. Please limit name and address to four lines. A gift membership is great for birthdays or as a way to congratulate a student who has completed a thesis or degree.

For more information, contact Karol Dean, treasurer.

Become Involved

Make the most of your membership by becoming active in the division's initiatives and special interests.

Committees

Div. 35 committees contribute to the activities, initiatives and events that promote feminist psychology as well as collaborate with other divisions and groups within APA.

Sections

Div. 35’s five sections center around concerns and interests related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender diversity.

Task Forces

Task forces focus on specific, compelling issues in the psychology of women and gender or issues that face feminist psychologists in the U.S. and beyond.

Awards

Div. 35 recognizes the achievements of its members in their careers, teaching and publishing, as well as the accomplishments of students. Sections also offer awards.

Fellowship Status

Fellowship is a special distinction for APA members who have received a doctoral degree in psychology or related field from a regionally accredited institution and can show evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions in the field or psychology. Fellow status requires that a person’s work have a national impact on the discipline beyond a local, state or regional level.

Div. 35 requires that candidates for fellow demonstrate that a significant part of their unusual and outstanding contributions were made directly in the service of furthering the psychological understanding, well-being and rights of girls and women from a feminist perspective.