POOR WOMEN IN PSYCHOLOGICAL-RESEARCH - SHUT UP AND SHUT OUT

For the most part, theory and empirical study in the psychology of wom en have failed to recognize many distinctions among women. Indeed, the focus of feminist theory and research has been directed to the explic ation of women's essential experience of gender, as if this could be s eparated from the confounds of class and race. This presentation raise s the issue of the diversity among poor women, the need to disentangle ethnicity and class, and the limitation of adopting a middle-class Wh ite perspective. In addition to racism, other possible causes of exclu sion are explored. Silencing of poor women is also discussed in terms of causes and impact on the discipline of psychology. We have not prov ided sufficient mechanisms to allow diverse groups of women to tell th eir own stories; instead, we have felt comfortable in making assumptio ns and drawing parallels that may be inappropriate and incorrect. Sugg estions for achieving feminist goals are provided.