ABSTRACT

Women in Behavior Science is a unique text that showcases the perspectives, stories, and lessons of notable female behavior scientists at all stages of their careers, with relevance for the field’s many women pursuing careers in academia today.

With the insights of esteemed female behavior scientists from diverse backgrounds, the book brings together their challenges and successes to include their own distinct perspectives on their professional and personal development. The book includes three sections that span the different phases of the academic lifespan from graduate school to retirement and post-retirement. Each section covers a wide range of topics such as expanding one’s work in new and diverse areas; deciding when and how to make transitions; making something out of nothing or very little; navigating relationships with family, children, and life partners both inside and outside of academy; values-based living; how to thrive in competitive environments; and building values-consistent repertoires in settings that may be gender-marginalizing. Presenting a behind-the-scenes view of academia, the authors also provide open and vulnerable narratives about their psychological and socio-cultural experiences, their stories of marginalization, their difficulties with mental and physical health challenges, grief and loss, and caring for others with chronic health conditions.

Reframing the cultural-level recognition of female behavior scientists today, this book is essential reading for graduate and postgraduate students of Behavioral Science, especially for those focusing on diversity and cultural issues. It is also a must-read for professionals interested in understanding the experiences of diverse groups in this field.

part I|118 pages

Beginning

chapter 1|18 pages

Planting Seeds

Learning, Growing, and Thriving in Graduate School

chapter 2|17 pages

The Job Search

chapter 3|13 pages

The First Years of the Job

What My CV Doesn't Tell You

chapter 5|19 pages

Mentoring Relationships

Finding a Mentor, Being Mentored, and Mentoring Others

chapter 6|21 pages

Mentoring, Mothering, Sistering, and Friending

Building a Caring Mentoring Community

part II|143 pages

Striving and Surviving

chapter 8|14 pages

Promotions

chapter 10|15 pages

Family-Career Balance

Professional and Personal Repertoires Shaped with Love, Enthusiasm, and Strong Models

chapter 11|18 pages

Spiritual Activism

chapter 14|18 pages

Sickness, Health, and Love

Managing Life and Work Demands

chapter 15|17 pages

Leisure

part III|103 pages

Thriving

chapter 16|18 pages

Making Something out of Nothing or Very Little

A Tale of How to Plant Seeds of Behavior Analysis, How to Cultivate Them, and Enjoy Watching Them Grow and Multiply

chapter 17|19 pages

Expanding

chapter 18|12 pages

Staying Motivated

An Intermezzo

chapter 22|14 pages

Reflections on Loss and Grief

chapter 23|7 pages

Capitalizing on Applied Behavior Analysis

Within Our Retirement Years