SEXING THE PHALLOCENTRIC PAGES OF PSYCHOLOGY - REPOPULATION IS NOT ENOUGH

Whilst the case for the repopulation of psychology made by Billig is s upported in principle, it is argued that repopulation without serious reassessment of the underlying phallocentric bias in psychology is not enough. It may even act to reinforce reactionary tendencies within th e discipline through coating them in a veneer of liberalism. Following critiques of the inherent sexism in both science and psychology, femi nists have already moved to repopulate the discipline, taking a more r adical step than is suggested by Billig's 'Median Case Reconstruction' . Critiques of objectivity and neutrality, increased reflexivity, and acknowledgements of subjectivity are commonplace in feminist psycholog y. Yet as feminist critiques and genuine repopulation threaten the ver y foundations of psychology, it is not surprising that they are not re adily accepted by the academic gatekeepers. It is concluded that only a paradigm shift will allow Billig's arguments to be taken seriously i n mainstream psychology, and a, feminist analysis suggests that this i s a long way off.