Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g0R52Un17147; Sun, 27 Jan 2002 00:02:30 -0500 (EST) Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 00:02:30 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <sc5342fd.093@langate.gsu.edu> Errors-To: alcrsb@langate.gsu.edu Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Daphne Greenberg" <alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:1901] Definition of literacy and definition of labels X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 5.5.6.1 Status: O Content-Length: 4292 Lines: 111 I am curious if anyone else on the listserv has some thoughts about two issues that Ujwala raises: 1."Literacy needs to go beyond the limits imposed upon it by theories of adult education. In international literacy, the definition automatically means learning how to survive, knowing how to navigate in a society (bloom where you're planted), awareness of rights and social issues..." 2."Labels are an issue that every field has to confront.They're just a pseudonym for stereotypes, if we look closely enough." Anyone have additional thoughts? Daphne >>> lalumineuse@yahoo.com 01/22/02 17:43 PM >>> >>Although, at first glance, this "may not have much to do with literacy" (as you noted in the last part of your post), I think that it does if we define literacy in a broader sense of the word. Here are the connections for me: 1. Rape may be a topic in a newspaper article or book that our learners are reading. 2. Learners may write about rape in their writings. 3. Rape may come up as part of a class discussion. Therefore, I think the discussion of labels is very apropos!<< I find this very important because it came up recently with learners. Women mentioned the fact that even though their cab fares were paid (to come to literacy classes), they were reluctant to come, especially at nights. When asked why, they said they were uncomfortable with cab drivers who propositioned them and tried to get physical with them. The second thing is that we need to encourage women to feel comfortable enough in classes to talk (even in private with the teacher/admin) about their experiences and help them deal with it. As a graduate student, we were made aware that there was some domestic violence taking place with "trailing spouses" hich was not always addressed. The idea of rape within a marriage was not something that women (wives) knew enough about, to go and seek help. I think that in its truest sense, literacy needs to go beyond the limits imposed upon it by theories of adult education. In international literacy, the definition automatically means learning how to survive, knowing how to navigate in a society (bloom where you're planted), awareness of rights and social issues, so Daphne, I completely agree with you that this is an issue for literacy and literacy educators. Labels are an issue that every field has to confront. They're just a pseudonym for stereotypes, if we look closely enough. regards Ujwala --- Daphne Greenberg <ALCDGG@langate.gsu.edu> wrote: > Although, at first glance, this "may not have much > to do with literacy" (as you noted in the last part > of your post), I think that it does if we define > literacy in a broader sense of the word. Here are > the connections for me: > 1. Rape may be a topic in a newspaper article or > book that our learners are reading. > 2. Learners may write about rape in their writings. > 3. Rape may come up as part of a class discussion. > Therefore, I think the discussion of labels is very > apropos! > Daphne > > > Daphne Greenberg > Associate Director > Center for the Study of Adult Literacy > Georgia State University > University Plaza > Atlanta, GA 30303-3083 > phone: 404-651-0127 > fax:404-651-4901 > dgreenberg@gsu.edu > > >>> JPSscribe@aol.com 01/21/02 04:50PM >>> > When I was working at the University of Arkansas for > Medical Sciences, we had > to put together a curriculum on date rape. Whenever > we had to refer to women > who had been raped as a group, that's what we called > them--women who have > been raped. (As in "Women who have been raped often > find themselves being > stereotyped by well-meaning people.") On second > reference, we just said > something like "these women." We felt like anything >else was sort of > patronizing. After all, they are women above all > else. The fact that they > have been raped should not become the central part > of their identity, so in > my opinion there is no need to torture ourselves > about what kind of label to > pin on them. They are simply women. > This doesn't really have much to do with literacy, > but I felt the need to > address it since it was already on the table. > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/
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