A new student run journal, Psychology from the Margins, out of the University of Akron has just been launched. The journal focuses on the work at the intersections of history, practice, and social justice issues. It is described as

… a student-run, student-led, peer-reviewed journal. This journal features scholarly work addressing the history of research, practice, and advocacy in psychology, especially in areas related to social justice, social issues, and social change. Its purpose is to help fill gaps in the historical literature by providing an outlet for articles in the history of psychology highlighting stories that have been unrepresented or underrepresented by other historical narratives. The journal will accept and invite graduate and undergraduate students to submit manuscripts.

Articles in the inaugural issue include:

“Stuck in the Present: Gaps in the Theoretical Past and Applied Future of the Psychology of Men and Masculinities,” by Zachary T. Gerdes. Abstract:

Over 30 years of research in the psychology of men and masculinities (PMM) has relied primarily on social constructionist and social learning theoretical perspectives. Social constructionism applied to gender and masculinity is much older than is often claimed in the psychology of men and masculinities literature. By paying a deeper homage to the feminist and social science researchers throughout the 20th century that influenced social constructionist theory applied to gender, PMM theory can grow and more effective clinical and prevention interventions can be designed for men. This is especially important considering the hundreds of problematic outcomes associated with how masculine norms have been defined and measured in the psychology of men and masculinities literature. Strict adherence to problematic masculine norms has been identified as a crisis in the U.S. Progress in the psychology of men and masculinities relies on the deepening of its theoretical past and the broadening of its clinical future. Concrete suggestions for doing so are addressed in this manuscript.

“Milton Rokeach’s Experimental Modification of Values: Navigating Relevance, Ethics and Politics in Social Psychological Research,” by Stefan Jadaszewski. Abstract:

In 1967, social psychologist Milton Rokeach (1918 – 1988) proposed that in order for social psychology to remain relevant to the issues confronting the social sciences and the United States, it must adopt value as its core construct. In addition to influential conceptual advancements, his major contributions to this literature would include the development of the Rokeach Value Survey and the introduction of a method of experimentally inducing changes in values, termed “self-confrontation.” Rokeach conceptualized this body of research as operating within an explicitly humanistic, democratic and socially-oriented ethic. As Rokeach’s efforts to produce socially-relevant research expanded beyond the traditional contexts of social psychological research, they raised unique challenges and concerns with which the researcher would grapple during the remainder of his career.

“Inequity for Women in Psychology: How Much Have We Progressed and What Work Still Needs to Be Done?,” by Caitlin Martin-Wagar. Abstract:

Despite the higher rate of women in the field of psychology, there continue to be significant inequities that impact women’s career trajectories. This is especially prevalent in academia and leadership roles in psychological organizations. A historical review and analysis of past barriers and obstacles to women’s success in psychology will be provided, followed by current trends. While many have worked to understand the source of these disparities, significant institutional and systemic societal barriers continue to persist. It will be argued that the field of psychology needs to work more diligently to assuage the barriers that result in inequitable treatment and career opportunity. In regard to historical approaches to gender equity in psychology, the field of psychology has continued to use similar attempts aimed at the individual level to correct the inequity with little success and a more systemic shift is needed.