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Silencing the self and feminist identity development
Tricia H Witte1, Martin F Sherman
1Department of Psychology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701, USA. triciawitte@yahoo.com
Psychological Reports
|August 2, 2002
Summary
College women who passively accept oppression and traditional gender roles risk "silencing the self." Understanding this connection can help young women challenge submission and reduce self-silencing.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Feminist Studies
Background:
- The concept of "silencing the self" describes the suppression of one's own voice and needs.
- Feminist identity development models explore how women internalize and challenge societal gender roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between "silencing the self" and feminist identity development stages.
- To investigate how passive acceptance of oppression and traditional gender roles impacts self-silencing in college women.
Main Methods:
- The study analyzed the correlation between Jack's "silencing the self" concept and Downing and Roush's feminist identity development model.
- Data was collected from college women to assess their levels of passive acceptance and self-silencing.
Main Results:
- A significant relationship was found between passive acceptance of women's oppression and adhering to traditional gender roles, and "silencing the self."
- College women in the Passive Acceptance stage reported higher levels of self-silencing.
Conclusions:
- Passive acceptance of societal norms and oppression contributes to "silencing the self" among college women.
- These findings highlight the importance of encouraging women to question traditional gender roles and acknowledge oppression to mitigate self-silencing.
- Interventions aimed at feminist identity development may help reduce self-silencing and promote self-expression.