Naomi Weisstein
Encyclopedia
Naomi Weisstein is the daughter of Mary Wenk and Samuel Weisstein. She is a Professor of Psychology, neuroscientist, and author. She graduated from Wellesley College, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1961 and received a Ph.D. from Harvard University
in 1964. In 1964 she took a post-doctoral fellowship at the Committee on Mathematical Biology at the University of Chicago
. She taught at University of Chicago, Loyola University
in Chicago, and at the State University of New York
at Buffalo until the early 1980s, when she was stricken with chronic fatigue syndrome
, which has left her bedridden. She is married to radical historian Jesse Lemisch.
Naomi Weisstein is Guggenheim Fellow
and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
and the American Psychological Society. She has written over sixty articles for such publications as Science, Vision Research, Psychological Review and Journal of Experimental Psychology and served on the boards of Cognitive Psychology and Spatial Vision. Along with Phyllis Chesler
, Joanne Evans Gardner, and others, in August 1970 Naomi founded American Women in Psychology, now Division 35 of the American Psychological Association
.
She is probably best known for her pioneering essay, "Kinder, Kirche, Kuche as Scientific Law: Psychology Constructs the Female." She has written extensively on science, feminism, culture and politics. "Kinder, Kirche, Kuche" is characterized as having started the discipline of the psychology of women, and has been reprinted over 42 times in six different languages.
Weisstein is an outspoken feminist, who has written that she encountered sexism at every turn when she applied for teaching positions. She has a sense of humor, and was one of the early feminist stand-up comedians. She also organized the Chicago Woman’s Liberation Rock Band "to shake up the sexist world of pop music." http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/CWLUAbout/cwluintro.html
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1964. In 1964 she took a post-doctoral fellowship at the Committee on Mathematical Biology at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. She taught at University of Chicago, Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
in Chicago, and at the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
at Buffalo until the early 1980s, when she was stricken with chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
, which has left her bedridden. She is married to radical historian Jesse Lemisch.
Naomi Weisstein is Guggenheim Fellow
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
and the American Psychological Society. She has written over sixty articles for such publications as Science, Vision Research, Psychological Review and Journal of Experimental Psychology and served on the boards of Cognitive Psychology and Spatial Vision. Along with Phyllis Chesler
Phyllis Chesler
Phyllis Chesler is an American writer, psychotherapist, and professor emerita of psychology and women's studies at the College of Staten Island...
, Joanne Evans Gardner, and others, in August 1970 Naomi founded American Women in Psychology, now Division 35 of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
.
She is probably best known for her pioneering essay, "Kinder, Kirche, Kuche as Scientific Law: Psychology Constructs the Female." She has written extensively on science, feminism, culture and politics. "Kinder, Kirche, Kuche" is characterized as having started the discipline of the psychology of women, and has been reprinted over 42 times in six different languages.
Weisstein is an outspoken feminist, who has written that she encountered sexism at every turn when she applied for teaching positions. She has a sense of humor, and was one of the early feminist stand-up comedians. She also organized the Chicago Woman’s Liberation Rock Band "to shake up the sexist world of pop music." http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/CWLUAbout/cwluintro.html
Quotes
- "Except for their genitals, I don't know what immutable differences exist between men and women. Perhaps there are some other unchangeable differences; probably there are a number of irrelevant differences. But it is clear that until social expectations for men and women are equal, until we provide equal respect for both sexes, answers to this question will simply reflect our prejudices."
- "Psychology has nothing to say about what women are really like, what they need and what they want, essentially, because psychology does not know."
- "Evidence and reason: my heroes and my guides."
Articles
- Kinder, Kuche, Kirche as Scientific Law: Psychology Constructs the Female
- Power, Resistance and Science
- Psychology Constructs the Female