The Activism Caucus was founded during the 2019 conference in Newport, RI during a session organized by Paula Caplan and Joan Chrisler to discuss the apparent decline in organized activism in AWP and the loss of the Spokesperson position (i.e., the IC member who took public activist stands on behalf of the membership). Like other AWP caucuses, we see our role as raising the organization’s consciousness, sponsoring conference sessions, encouraging scholarly work, undertaking activist projects, and otherwise seeking to make
both societal and organizational change in the service of social justice.

Our primary public mission is to bring psychological research and clinical experiences to bear on attempts to understand social issues and to encourage AWP members and the general public to work for the betterment of society.

Because AWP is a 501©3 organization, we cannot engage in partisan politics (e.g., endorse candidates for public office). However, we can lobby, give expert testimony, and take public stands on topics related to our expertise in psychology and women’s/gender issues. The Caucus welcomes new members.

Joan C. Chrisler
jcchr@conncoll.edu

The Campus Sexual Assault Caucus was formed to promotes research, clinical services, and activism related to campus sexual assault.  Our goal is to provide a forum for clinicians, activists, researchers, and teachers to organize activism, learn from one another, network, and collaborate on issues related to campus sexual assault. Like other AWP caucuses, we see our role as sponsoring conference sessions and encouraging scholarly work and activism on this issue. 

Coordinator:
Emily Keener
Emily.keener@sru.edu

The Caucus on Mothering Issues was created at the 2005 annual AWP Conference after online discussions of feminist mothering and the ways in which psychology historically and currently has not served mothers well. The issues facing mothers are rarely addressed at professional conferences, within the discipline of psychology, or within the literature. The Caucus provides a space for sharing professional work (research, teaching, practice) and personal experiences. Membership is open to all. We currently are looking for new ideas and activities.

Karen Tao
k.tao@utah.edu

The History and Archives Caucus was convened following the first AWP virtual conference, held during the coronavirus pandemic in March 2021. The potential value of such a Caucus had become apparent during AWP’s 50th anniversary in 2019; as the founders’ generation retires, our archived and online documentation will become the primary source of information about our history.  

The role of our caucus will be as liaison with the Cummings Center in Akron (where AWP’s archives reside), to sponsor conference sessions on AWP and feminist psychology history, to encourage members to embrace historical awareness as part of AWP membership, and to maintain and flesh out our historical record through updates and expansions to our website, online exhibits, and material archives.

If you have materials that you think may be relevant, please contact AWP's archivist, Mala Matacin at matacin@hartford.edu.

Chair
Leonore Tiefer
ltiefer@mindspring.com

Archivist
Mala Matacin
matacin@hartford.edu

The AWP Older Women's Caucus (OWC) was formed originally in 1992 (chairs: Doris Howard, Mona Reeva, Royda Crose, Judith Sugar) but was inactive after 2000 until reconvening in 2015. This revival occurred as the result of a 2014 Boston U. conference called "A Revolutionary Moment" that was all about the 1960s and Second Wave feminism. AWP began in 1969 and we had a lot to say. Suzanna Rose, Joan Chrisler, Maureen McHugh, Leonore Tiefer, and Irene Frieze presented a well-attended session about AWP and after reporting on this at AWP in 2015, we decided to revive the OWC to continue the dialog. We have an annual AWP pre-conference workshop in which we discuss feminist psychology and aging, issues of retirement and adapting to life changes, and how AWP can include more intergenerational topics. We also plan sessions for future AWP conferences and take commemorative photos. Each year attendance grows. The OWC is open to all interested AWPers, regardless of chronological age.

Mary Hayden
maryhaydenphd@gmail.com

Queercus is committed to promoting dialogue within AWP about the range of expressions of sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual diversity. In particular, the Queercus seeks to raise awareness of aspects of identity that do not fit into traditional dichotomous conceptualizations. The Queercus supports conference programming on sexual and gender diversity, particularly as it intersects with issues of race, class, and ability status as well as spirituality. The caucus also sponsors the annual Coming Out Ceremony, where participants are invited to come out about any aspect of their identity for which they would like community witness and support.

Nicole "Nic" Johnson
nij316@lehigh.edu

Gia Davis
gdavis@clarku.edu

The goals of the Researchers' Caucus are (1) to encourage current AWP members to present their quantitative and qualitative research at AWP conferences; (2) to provide a forum for researchers to network and collaborate on future projects; and (3) to encourage new researchers in the field to join AWP.

Crystal L. Hendrick
cllhendrick@gmail.com

Join the movement to end Sizeism; Challenge the medicalization and moralization of fat. As the medical industry continues its “war on obesity”, the sizeism movement is gaining momentum. In the past several years, fat activists and scholars have published a peer-reviewed journal, established blogs, published texts to be used in Fat Studies classrooms, challenged invalid statements regarding “obesity”, and have offered sizeism workshops to psychologists in training. The Sizeism Caucus is part of an academic and grassroots MOVEMENT.

We recognize the principles of the 1973 Fat Liberation Manifesto, including the rights of people of all sizes to human respect and recognition and equal access to employment, education, public facilities, and health services. We recognize the intersection of size discrimination with other diverse identities and how unchecked sizeism gives cover for oppressive systems to continue harming vulnerable populations. In particular, we know that sizeism applies particularly to people of color and is a fundamental way in which racism is perpetuated. We acknowledge the exploitative nature of the weight-loss and beauty industries. We call out the complicity of the health care system in denying life-affirming and life-saving care to those in larger bodies.

The Sizeism Caucus meets at the AWP conferences.  Get together with like-minded individuals to address the impact of sizeism and fatphobia on ourselves, our peers, and our clients and our communities. We support research, teaching, providing clinical services, and ending discrimination for those in larger bodies. Frequent topics in meetings are sharing common experiences and discussing how to advocate for fat therapists, students, and clients. We also put out information regarding presentations at AWP that are fat-friendly and informative!

Linda Najjar
najjar@innerwisdomcounseling.com

Wendy Dragon 
wendy.dragon@wright.edu

The Student Caucus was formed to represent the position and needs of student members of the Association of Women in Psychology. In addition to other aspects of their identities, students face unique challenges in professional domains. The power dynamics experienced by students in conferences and other professional spaces are often overlooked. This caucus gives students a space to engage with other peers about their struggles and achievements within the discipline of psychology. Participants are also able to build a network of peers with whom to collaborate and communicate both within and outside conference spaces.

Lauren Brooks
lbrooks9@angelo.edu

The Teachers’ Caucus was formed to represent the position and needs of members of the Association of Women in Psychology who teach. The goal of the Teachers’ Caucus is to provide a forum for teachers to learn from one another, network, and collaborate on issues related to teaching. Like other AWP caucuses, we see our role as sponsoring conference sessions and encouraging scholarly work. 

Coordinator:
Chris Smith 
smithc@uwgb.edu

The Women of Color Caucus provides a safe space for women of color within AWP to come together to discuss topics relevant to their experiences. We connect to support each other as we navigate various aspects of our identities, careers and lives as feminist educators, researchers and practitioners. We hope to provide an opportunity for WOC to find a home within AWP, whether this is your first or your 39th conference!" The Caucus is open to all Women of Color.

Cathy (Cat) Thompson
cathompson@ucsd.edu