The families in psychology project: Restructuring the field of psychology through inclusive leadership that recognises the importance of psychologists’ personal identities as parents

Abstract

The identity of ‘mother’ is incompatible with the masculinist structure of academia and the professional identities of ‘psychology trainee’ or ‘academic psychologist’ as they are currently conceived. Supporting mothers as psychology trainees and early career psychologists in academia may aid in generating innovative solutions to problems in the field. Accordingly, the Families in Psychology Project (FIPP) was developed as a grassroots network to lead the field of psychology in supporting trainees and early career professionals to integrate personal and professional identities. This leadership is particularly needed at this time, when women are the majority of students matriculating from psychology graduate training programmes and when the demographic make-up of the psychological workforce is more diverse than ever before. The current commentary reviews literature to provide a rationale for why the FIPP is necessary, further describes the FIPP, and identifies specific ways by which the FIPP supports trainees and early career professionals who are parents.