Focus on Division 17’s Committee on Women/Section for the Advancement of Women (SAW) 1970-2030

Abstract

This article presents the development, contributions, and future directions of the American Psychological Association, Division 17, Section for the Advancement of Women (SAW). Beginning with the formation of the Division 17 Ad Hoc Committee on Women in 1970, formalized in 1982 as the Division 17 Committee on Women, the SAW was formed in 1996. Article 1 of SAW’s bylaws, approved in 1996, identifies five goals for SAW, and these provide the organizing framework for this article. The five goals are related to professional support; education, training, and dissemination; scientific affairs; professional practice; and diversity and public interest. The work of the Ad Hoc Committee on Women and of the Committee on Women reflect these SAW goals and permit reviewing the accomplishments of these earlier committees within this framework. The article ends with some reflections on future directions for SAW in the 21st century.