The 2012 Conference of the Association for Women in Psychology (AWP) will be held March 8-11, 2012, at the Hilton Palm Springs in Palm Springs, California. Pre-conference workshops will be conducted on Thursday, March 8th. The conference will open on the morning of Friday, March 9th, with a closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, March 11th.

Proposals will be accepted from August 15-October 17, 2011.

The theme of the 2012 AWP Conference reflects the essential elements of feminism as it informs and transforms psychology and the field of mental health. This “back to basics” approach honors the herstory and struggles of the feminist movement in psychology while it challenges us to reach forward, expanding ourselves, and extending our influence. Our Call for Proposals solicits scholarly work across a wide range of topics, embodying inclusivity - perhaps the most dynamic element of feminism.

Advance … personal development. This aspect of the theme represents our responsibility to ourselves as we collaborate with and serve others. Proposals supporting this theme might address personal self-care and growth, professional development, feminist therapy and women’s issues in therapy, defining mental health, feminist approaches to human development and socialization, overcoming oppression and trauma, and transcending sex roles.

Bolster … feminism in academia. Even as we support individual development, it is essential to contribute to the scholarly field of psychology. Proposals might address feminist scholarship, research methods and models, teaching feminist pedagogy, mentoring and career development (in the academy and outside of it), and forging an academic feminist identity.

Cultivate … global awareness. We see women as central to the creation of a just and sustainable future. Proposals relating to this theme might address combatting sexism, racism, ageism, and other forms of oppression, creating multi-cultural alliances in pursuit of equality and justice, and the exploration of international women's issues.

Proposals that address our conference theme are especially encouraged, but all proposals related to feminist research and practice are welcome. We encourage all presentations relevant to clinical practice to apply to qualify for Continuing Education credit.