1-002 - Presidential Address: We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby! (But We’re Not There Yet.)

Session Type: Presidential Address

Integrative Statement

As developmental scientists, we are well aware that if we compare an individual at two points in time separated by some 50 or 60 years, we would see many dramatic differences. If we examine a professional society (e.g., SRCD) or a broader societal context (e.g., the United States) over similar time spans, we would likewise see dramatic differences. Working within the domain of gender, I will illustrate dramatic changes over large swaths of time, focusing especially on changes related to educational and occupational opportunities and outcomes. By drawing on observations of contemporary times and controversies—especially those surrounding single-sex education—I will argue that although we (individuals, SRCD, and U.S. society) have come a long way toward gender equity, we have not arrived there yet. Many of the gender-related claims and recommendations about child-rearing and education made today are surprisingly reminiscent of those made more than a century ago. For developmental theory and research to allow us to travel farther along the path to “there” we will need not only excellent science, but also greater awareness of diverse conceptualizations of gender, the role of human values, and the processes involved in research-to-policy transfer.

Sub Unit

• SRCD Biennial Meeting

Speaker

• Lynn S Liben, Pennsylvania State University