[NIFL-WOMENLIT:1080] RE: Women's self knowledge

From: Daphne Greenberg (ALCDGG@langate.gsu.edu)
Date: Tue Oct 24 2000 - 12:07:33 EDT


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From: "Daphne Greenberg" <ALCDGG@langate.gsu.edu>
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Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:1080] RE: Women's self knowledge
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Fascinating!  I just quickly looked at a current GED and pre-ged Glencoe workbook, and the only reproductive system discussed, was that of a flower!  Has anyone else had a chance to look at their books?
I am also curious, would the clitoris be mentioned in a section on reproduction?  Since it does not have any pure reproductive function, I am guessing that those books that do mention reproduction, might not even have to mention the clitoris at all!  
And now, I am wondering even more-are words for sexual organs taught to ESL learners, or are these words that they have to learn on their own?
Daphne
>>> jlashof@rcsu.org 10/23 3:07 PM >>>
About ten years ago, I looked through all the biology & pre-ged science
books in our learning center to see how they presented these issues.  Seems
we have a nervous system, a digestive system, etc.  BUT HUMAN BEINGS DON'T
APPEAR TO HAVE A REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.  Has that changed?

Judith Lashof
Rutland Region Even Start Coordinator
RCSU/257 S. Main St./Rutland, VT 05701
802-775-4342
jlashof@rcsu.org 


-----Original Message-----
From: nifl-womenlit@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-womenlit@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of
Daphne Greenberg
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2000 1:51 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:1076] Women's self knowledge


This past weekend, I had the privilege to attend the first annual
(hopefully) MS conference in NY.  What a delight!  Marcia Ann Gillespie,
Gloria Steinem, and Maya Angelou were all very inspirational.  We had two
chances to attend numerous workshops and I attended a diversity workshop and
a sexuality workshop.  At the sexuality workshop, a participant shared
something that gave me food for thought.  She is 22 years old and only
learned about the existence of the clitoris 2 years ago when she was in
college.  She stated that she came from a middle class family and from a
middle class school in a city in Virginia.  She remembers learning that a
vagina is like a self cleaning oven and that she therefore does not have to
douche, but never learned what a douche is.  Anyway, she was very grateful
that she had the opportunity to go to college so that she could attend
feminist groups and learn about her body.   She shared this after a
presenter had talked about having a map of one's!
 body and sharing directions with a partner about what feels good and what
doesn't.  The participant shared her experience to point out that not all
women are knowledgeable enough to have a map to share!
This got me to start thinking about our learners.  This individual had to go
to college to be exposed to information about her body.  Where can/do our
learners go for this kind of information?  Any thoughts?
Daphne

Daphne Greenberg
Center for the Study of Adult Literacy
Georgia State University
University Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
Fax: 404-651-1415
Ph: 404-651-0400
E-mail: alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu 



Daphne Greenberg
Center for the Study of Adult Literacy
Georgia State University
University Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
Fax: 404-651-1415
Ph: 404-651-0400
E-mail: alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu



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