Women in IACCP and Cross-Cultural Psychology

IACCP held its first meeting in Hong Kong in 1972, and 25 years later, the first woman President, Cigdem Kagitcibasi (1990-1992) was elected. It was another 10 years before a second woman was elected President, Deborah Best (2000-2002). In the 46 years since the organization was founded, there have been 25 Presidents, and only 4 of these 25 have been women. Over the years, 34 men and 16 women have served as officers of IACCP. In 2004 at the IACCP Conference, Kagitcibasi organized a Past-Presidents’ Symposium with “…the goal of providing insights…regarding the past, present and envisioned future of IACCP and by extension the field of cross-cultural psychology” and “to provide a forum….to present personal experiences and views…that would be interesting, informative and possibly inspirational to cross-cultural psychologists, particularly of the younger generation.” The current symposium shares these goals and will focus upon IACCP women. The symposium will highlight the contributions of women who held early leadership positions in IACCP as well as women who have been involved in more recent years (including women not present in Guelph, Anandalakshmy, Keating, Munroe, Kagitcibasi, Keller, Chaudhary, Gelfand). What contributions did women make over the years? What barriers and opportunities did they face? How have policies regarding gender, ethnicity/race affected women’s scholarly activities and relationships? These are some of the questions women on the panel will address as they describe their experiences in the organization and in cross-cultural endeavors, looking to the past as well as offering suggestions for the future.

Women in Early Leadership Roles -- Deborah Best

The First IACCP Meeting and Later Years -- Patricia Greenfield

Running the Organization as Secretary General -- Colleen Ward, Josehpine Naidoo, Marta Fulop

Administrative Women, Deputy Secretary General -- Marta Young, Saba Safdar

Women Who Manage the Money – Sharon Glazer, Brigitte Armon