Listening to different voices 1

By way of background, this chapter outlines the four waves of feminism (mainly relevant to western societies), the concept of postfeminism and the common themes of feminist theories. Discussion of developmental psychology’s gendered inheritance is illuminated by Carol Gilligan’s reflections on her work in relation to developmental theorizing in the second wave and her later research on girls’ experiences. Although feminist psychology has become a thriving area of inquiry, it is marginalized by the mainstream; reasons for this are suggested. The relationship between feminism and evolutionary psychology is discussed, as are critiques of neurosexism. Holistic frameworks for sex/gender development are outlined. Finally, backlashes and decolonization are discussed in relation to feminism and young people’s development. Erica Burman’s ground-breaking work is recognized, and the value of multidisciplinary contributions and the use of multiple research methodologies highlighted.