Mary Pipher
Mary Pipher: A Renowned Psychologist and Author
Full Name and Common Aliases
Mary Pipher was born as Mary Bray Pipher on August 7, 1948.
Birth and Death Dates
Birth Date: August 7, 1948
Death Date: Not applicable (still alive)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Pipher is an American psychologist and author. She has written extensively on topics such as adolescent psychology, women's issues, and social justice.
Early Life and Background
Mary Pipher was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her early life was marked by a strong emphasis on family and community values. Her father, John Bray, was a professor of English at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, while her mother, Evelyn Pipher, was a homemaker. Pipher grew up in a close-knit household with two younger sisters.
As a child, Pipher was an introverted and creative individual. She developed a passion for writing and drawing, which would later become essential components of her professional career. Her early experiences also instilled in her a deep respect for the importance of community and social responsibility.
Major Accomplishments
Pipher's academic background is impressive. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1970. After completing her undergraduate studies, she went on to pursue a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon (1972) and later a Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Relationships from the University of Oregon (1975).
Pipher has made significant contributions to the field of psychology through her research and writing. Her work focuses on adolescent development, particularly during the transition from childhood to adulthood. Her notable publications include:
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls (1994)
The Shelter of Each Other: Rebuilding Our Families (1996)
* Writing to Change the World (2008)
Notable Works or Actions
Pipher's most notable work, Reviving Ophelia, explores the challenges faced by adolescent girls in contemporary American society. The book examines how societal expectations and pressures can lead to the erosion of a girl's sense of self. Pipher argues that it is essential for parents, educators, and policymakers to create environments that nurture and support the healthy development of young women.
Impact and Legacy
Mary Pipher has had a profound impact on the field of psychology and beyond. Her work has influenced generations of psychologists, educators, and mental health professionals. Through her writing, she has reached a broad audience and contributed significantly to public discourse around social issues affecting youth and families.
Pipher's advocacy for adolescent girls' rights and empowerment has inspired numerous initiatives aimed at promoting positive change in the lives of young women. Her work also highlights the importance of community-based support systems and encourages readers to engage in social activism.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Mary Pipher is widely quoted and remembered due to her groundbreaking research on adolescent development, particularly among girls. Her insightful analyses of societal pressures and expectations have resonated with a broad audience, making her a leading voice in contemporary discussions around social justice and human rights.
As an author, psychologist, and advocate for positive change, Mary Pipher's legacy continues to inspire individuals from diverse backgrounds to work towards creating a more compassionate and inclusive society.
Quotes by Mary Pipher
Acceptance is the end of our argument with reality. Once we face the facts, no matter how disturbing they are, we feel calmer and less crazy. Erik Erikson defined clarity as “the capacity to fear accurately.
As I grow older, I try not to focus on my regrets and failures, but rather to focus on what I’ve accomplished.
We can deal with our cultural and environmental crises only after we deal with our human crises of trauma, denial, and emotional paralysis. This will require that most difficult of all human endeavors, facing our own despair. This involves waking from our trance of denial, facing our own pain and sorrow, accepting the world as it is, adapting, and living more intentionally.
I do believe our culture is doing a bad job raising boys. The evidence is in the shocking violence of Paducah, Jonesboro, Cheyenne, and Edinboro. It’s in our overcrowded prisons and domestic violence shelters. It’s in our Ritalin-controlled elementary schools and alcohol-soaked college campuses.
Finally I teach the joys of altruism. Many adolescent girls are self-absorbed. It’s not a character flaw, it’s a developmental stage. Nonetheless, in makes them unhappy and limits their understanding of the world. I encourage girls to find some ways to help people on a regular basis.
You can never really live anyone else’s life, not even your child’s. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you’ve become yourself.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.
I teach girls certain skills. The first and most basic is centering. I recommend that they find a quiet place where they can sit alone daily for 10 to 15 minutes. I encourage them to sit in this place, relax their muscles and breathe deeply. Then they are to focus on their own thoughts and feelings about the day. They are not to judge these thoughts or feelings or even direct them, only to observe them and respect them. They have much to learn from their own internal reactions to their lives.
Our media outlets pay attention to the rise and fall of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, but not to species extinction rates. In this country money is well organized, but survival is not.