The future status of the field of the psychology of women can be examined by looking at the reasons for the existence of the field. Any field of exploration consists of three components, i.e., a set of scholars, a domain of inquiry, and a methodology. The scholars involved in the psychology of women form a group on the basis of both achieved and ascribed attitudes, and relationships built with one another. The domain of inquiry of the psychology of women is all phenomena relevant to women and girls, and a reevaluation of all other research in the framework of its relation to women and girls. Feminist psychologists are critical of psychological research on the issues of bias (it has been demonstrated that misogynist biases were present in supposedly objective measures or designs); limitation (in the definition of questions and problems); and oppression (much research has served to sustain a sex-stratified society). A field of inquiry reflects not only the social structure but the cognitive style of those who dominate in that social structure. To explore the question of cognitive style differences between men and women, a needed new direction for the psychology of women, requires learning to take risks and be imaginative. A model of research based on a feminine cognitive style represents a new paradigm for research. Encouraging diversity represents the values of the members of this field. By extension it would be valuable not to be limited to one research paradigm. (JAC)