Interview with Paula Caplan (Interview/Entrevue) (Interview‪)‬

Paula J. Caplan is former Full Professor of Applied Psychology and former Head of the Centre for Women's Studies in Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Currently, she is Visiting Scholar at the Pembroke Center at Brown University and Adjunct Professor at Washington College of Law, American University. She is the author of numerous books and plays, and is a playwright, actor, and director. Her books include: The Myth of Women's Masochism; Don't Blame Mother: Mending the Mother-Daughter Relationship and Lifting a Ton of Feathers: A Woman's Guide to Surviving in the Academic World. I interviewed Paula about her memories of working with Jeri Wine. They worked together from 1980 until 1991 when Jeri took early retirement because of ill health. Together they taught in the Community Psychology Program at OISE and ensured that it had a strong feminist analysis as parts of its core. Community Psychology programs were (and remain) rare in North American Psychology Departments because of the alternative critical analysis and perspective the area offers with its emphasis on community-based research and social action. Paula and Jeri also struggled together as feminist academics at a time when it was difficult to be a woman in male-centred, patriarchal institutions, as both their writings attest. Further, they each experienced debilitating health issues because of the sick building in which they worked. In fact, Paula was unable to continue teaching in the building and was forced to leave in 1995. My interview touches on these intersecting areas of their working lives. Paula reflects on the great support that Jeri offered her, the impact of her research and commitment to feminism and finally, on Jeri's legacy.