Margaret Floy Washburn

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Margaret Floy Washburn History and Systems of Psychology Margaret Floy Washburn It is widely acknowledged that women have faced many obstacles when seeking the same opportunities and privileges enjoyed by their male counterparts. At the turn of the century, American psychology was just beginning to come into its own, and the idea of equal rights for women lay far ahead in the future. Women who desired to become a part of the growing field encountered strong opposition from both society and the profession itself. Many believed that women had limited capability, rendering them incapable of little more than the management of domestic duties. It was often felt that the pursuit of higher education interfered with a woman’s ability to fulfill the expectations placed on her. Despite these societal roadblocks, women persevered, and proved themselves more than capable of making numerous contributions to psychology and other fields. Although many women were acknowledged as influential during this period, not all managed to challenge the male-dominant views of the time, and labored in obscurity. This served to render them almost invisible from a historical perspective, giving the impression they barely existed at all. One woman able not only to contribute to American psychology but also freely document her contributions was Margaret Floy Washburn. She was notable not only for her role in education but was also active in many of the prominent professional organizations in her field. Washburn was an only child, born in New York City on July 25th, 1871. Her father, Francis Washburn was a businessman and her mother, Elizabeth Floy Davis, was an heiress. Upon her fathers entry into the Episcopal ministry, the family left New York, and eventually took up permanent residence in the Hudson River city of Kingston. According to her own recollections, her upbringing was a happy

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