Hi Mary,
I"m interested in the issue you brought up: the increase in domestic violence as women progress in their adult literacy programs. 
About 10 years ago I worked with 3 programs in Massachusetts that enrolled women who were on welfare into literacy and skills training simultaneously. The first year, at about midyear,  some women were disappearing and when we tracked them down, we found that their partners had become abusive as they (the students) started preparing for on the job training. The closer the women came to independence in the form of being able to support themselves, the more dangerous their home situations became. The next year, we incorporated counseling into the program from the very start. 
We did not do any formal research on this, but I bet you can find others like me who have similar anecdotal evidence of the phenomena. Please share your experiences as you conduct your research.
Barb Garner

=====================
From: info at ccliteracy.org
Date: 2006/11/29 Wed PM 03:02:05 CST
To: 
	"The Poverty, Race,	Women and Literacy Discussion List" <povertyracewomen at nifl.gov>
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 82] Re: Welcome2

Greeting from South Texas!  I am Mary Gleason, and am the new director of
the Corpus Christi Literacy Council.  While I have only worked here six
months, I was a charter member of the board twenty years ago.  I have
always been interested in language, and in bilingualism and
multiculturalism.  I was born in Mexico (Guadalajara) with Irish and Czech
parents, one of whom was a Mexican citizen the other of which was an
American citizen. We came to the states when I was almost 12 years old.  
I am active in all kinds of organizations, too numerous to mention. One of
the interesting issues that came up when I was reading about literacy was
the observation that some women might drop out of adult literacy classes
because the power balance at home got upset and domestic abuse escalated. 
So far I only have found people who think this makes sense, and have heard
that this might be the case more often than we know, but no one who can
say for sure.  I even asked Jenny Horsman by email, and she said she knew
of no research on the subject of whether going back to school exacerbates
domestic abuse.  So, I have decided to research this issue.  So far very
little is written.  Anyhow, I am happy to be part of this listserve, and
hope to learn.
Mary Gleason

Hello, my name is Patricia Jones Turner.  I have been working in the

> Domestic Violence field for over 20 years.  I am the Coordinator for

> Domestic and Sexual Violence in Chesterfield County in the state of

> Virginia.  I am interested in discussions pertaining to women, poverty,

> race and literacy because each of these issues are interrelated to why

> women are forced to remain in abusive situations.  We have just begun to

> train our staff on the issues pertaining to "Cultural Competency" and

> I'm sure the discussions we have during our training sessions will

> relate to poverty, race, and literacy. I look forward to this list serve

> providing me with unique insight into how each of these topics

> contribute to the oppression of women (especially victims of domestic

> and sexual violence) not just on the local level but also

> internationally.

>

>

>

>> I would love it, if people can introduce themselves. Some examples: 1.

>

>> What are your interests in women, poverty, race and literacy? 2. What

>> are your hopes for this listserv?

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov

> [mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of mary belcher

> Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 7:04 PM

> To: The Poverty, Race, Women and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 28] Re: Welcome

>

>

> I'm a new ESL teacher; ELSA (English Language Services for Adults).  I

> have

> the beginner Level: Levels 1,2 and 3.  I have hesitated to introduce

> myself

> because I feel like I've 'snuck on' your list.  I'm up in Canada; BC; I

> have

> a Certesl from the U. of Saskatchewan as well as an 'updated' B. Ed.  I

> need

> ideas and I appreciate all the ideas; discussion.  I'm 51; have worked

> as a

> part timer in education; while raising four boys (2 from my first

> marriage

> and twins (16) from my current). We've moved around a bit due to

> employment

> issues and deal with ADD and ADHD with my twin sons. I  teach in the

> evening, 3 nights a week from 6 - 9 p.m.).  It seems I have different

> students each night; due to work schedules and family committments etc.

> of

> my students.

> Mary Belcher

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "Daphne Greenberg" <ALCDGG at langate.gsu.edu>

> To: "RaceWomen and Literacy Discussion List The Poverty"

> <povertyracewomen at nifl.gov>

> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 10:30 AM

> Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 10] Welcome

>

>

>> Since 11/6 when I sent my welcome message, we have more than doubled

>> the subscription membership list! In the spirit of welcoming the more

>> than 50% who joined after I sent my welcome message, I have decided to

>

>> send it out again, along with the postings of the people who

>> introduced themselves to the listserv. This way, we can be all caught

>> up (no need to worry-I won't repeat this again for a long time-I just

>> figure that 50% is a significant number of people who did not have a

>> chance to receive the welcome message.)

>>

>> We now have over 200 people  on this listserv. If you have not

>> introduced yourself to the rest of us, it would be great if you can

>> tell us who you are, your interest in this listserv, expectations,

>> etc. The more we know about each other and who we are, the easier it

>> will be to have discussions in this cyberspace medium!

>>

>> For those of you who joined after I sent my welcome message, here it

>> is, along with a copy of all the other introductionary messages:

>>

>> Welcome message from Daphne:

>>

>> In this first posting, I would like to tell you a bit about myself and

>

>> to invite you to do the same. I will also tell you a bit about my

>> philosophy about facilitating. A lot of us know each other, but a lot

>> of us don't. Sending posts to cyberspace can be a bit scary, and it

>> helps a

>> bit to know about the community to make it a little less scary. If you

>> don't feel like reading my somewhat long post, please scroll down to

>> the

>> 2 questions that I am asking people to consider and respond to.

>>

>> First, my philosophy about facilitating:

>>

>> If you are nervous about posting something, I encourage you to email

>> it to me personally, and I will be willing to post it on your behalf,

>> or help you edit it so that you feel comfortable sending it yourself.

>> I encourage people to participate in ways that are most comfortable to

>> them. Actively participating in discussions is fine,   posting a

>> question is fine, posting an announcement is fine, and lurking is fine

>> too!

>> I encourage controversy on the listserv, and will occasionally post

>> things to get a discussion going. I have no problem being critical of

>> any governmental policy related to literacy and encourage you to do so

>> as well!

>> As a facilitator, I believe in posting all posts with a few

>> exceptions.

>> I will not post anything that includes lobbying information (NIFL does

>> not allow lobbying information on this federally funded listserv), any

>> personal attacks against a listserv member, and posts that seem that

>> they are being sent to the listserv by accident (such as inviting

>> someone out to dinner). I will ALWAYS send you an email telling you

>> why

>> I didn't post your email. As a facilitator on the women and literacy

>> listserv, I can tell you that I only had to do this a few times.

>> I will from time to time remind people of making connections to

>> literacy. Sometimes we can get distracted by some very critical issue

>> and forget that we need to make connections to literacy when we post

>> something to this listserv.

>> There will be times of silence on this listserv, times when there are

>> only announcements posted, and times when I post questions to

>> facilitate

>> discussion. I will also host "guest" facilitators on topics of

>> interest

>> to the group.

>>

>> And now a bit about myself:

>>

>> I was the facilitator of the women and literacy listserv since its

>> beginning, and have been a member of the Poverty Race List. I am

>> currently the associate director in the Center for the Study

>> of Adult Literacy at Georgia State University. I am also an assistant

>> professor in the Educational Psychology and Special Education

>> Department. Since this listserv will be focusing on issues related to

>> literacy, women, poverty, and race, I will focus on my interests

>> related

>> to that topic. I am very interested in issues related to the "other",

>> issues related to domestic violence, issues related to health

>> literacy,

>> issues around family literacy, and issues related to SES and race. I

>> have conducted research on mammography knowledge in African American

>> elderly women who had low reading skills, and another study comparing

>> the reading attitudes of middle school kids based on their location

>> (urban versus inner city) and gender. I was one of the authors of a

>> lgbt

>> (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) climate study at my university

>> and

>> racial issues were included in the analyses. In my adult learning

>> graduate class, I spend a good part of the time talking about

>> diversity

>> issues in the adult classroom. I am also on the diversity committee in

>> my department.

>>

>> I would love it, if people can introduce themselves. Some examples: 1.

>

>> What are your interests in women, poverty, race and literacy? 2. What

>> are your hopes for this listserv?

>>

>> Introduction from Holly, a listserv subscriber:

>>

>> Hello Daphne, all,

>> Daphne, thank you for your introductory post and encouragement to

>> generate meaningful dialogue here on this listserv.  Your name is

>> familiar to me from 'lurking' awhile now.

>>

>> My name is Holly (Dilatush) and I've been involved with undoing

>> racism, GLBT, abolishing poverty, affirming women, etc. efforts for

>> several years now -- in various venues.

>> Presently, I'm working fulltime as an ESL Coordinator and Volunteer

>> Coordinator for the Charlottesville City Schools Adult Learning

>> Center.

>> Q:  What are your interests in women, poverty, race and literacy?

>> A:  (see above) Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Leslea Newman's

>> poetry,

>> Barbara Kingsolver's essays, and so many other readings have been

>> POWERFUL influences in my life -- often just a phrase will resonate

>> for

>> years and 'keep me on my toes' -- alert and more intentionally aware.

>> So, the power of words, and of dialogue, is highly valued and

>> prioritized in my life.

>>

>> I've participated for years in a "Black Women, White Women, ALL Women

>> in Dialogue group that meets once per month -- and I  believe that

>> this intentional awareness and willingness to delve (or attempt to!)

>> into difficult issues and to hear the real stories of how different

>> populations are impacted, or are perceived to be impacted, is crucial

>> to

>> positive progress.   I believe this listserv falls into this realm.

>> I

>> believe in encouraging all adult learners to feel the power of

>> literacy

>> -- both in its ability to nudge transformative moments/epiphanies

>> within

>> ourselves, but also that each and every one of us has the potential

>> to

>> use literacy to reach others in positive, transformative ways.

>>

>> Q:   What are your hopes for this listserv?

>> A:   That many of us will REMEMBER it is here and make the time to

>> post

>> to it when a relevant and useable idea to nurture postive literacy

>> growth works for us, when an outrageous situation or puzzling scenario

>> enters our awareness circle and this group might learn from it and/or

>> brainstorm/instigate ideas to work with it/through it, when an adult

>> learner points out something relevant to their learning experience

>> that

>> might be an eye-opener or "ah-hah" moment for all of us (as teachers

>> and/or administrators).

>>

>> so, to share an idea/positive story:

>>

>> In Charlottesville, VA, the annual Festival of the Book event is held

>> each March.   As part of this event, adult learners in a five county

>> area (which covers huge rural areas, as well as urban and suburban;

>> includes the incarcerated, and all GED and ESL programs known within

>> the

>> counties) are invited to share their stories [see this link for more

>> details if interested:  http://avenue.org/adulted/voal.html ]... the

>> stories must be true and must fall into one of the themes given.

>> Teachers are strongly encouraged (lots of reminders and

>> arm-twisting!)

>> to use prior years' writings incorporated into curriculum, and to have

>> all learners write toward the contest as part of classroom

>> assignments.

>>

>>

>> These genuine stories run the gamut from tearjerkers to rib-ticklers,

>> and the evening event where readers -- winners as well as ANY writer

>> who wishes to read aloud -- read to a packed audience (usually over

>> 200

>> attendees) is one of my favorite evenings of the year.   It is

>> literacy

>> in action -- and the writings are published and books distributed

>> year-long -- to physicians offices, libraries, schools, organizations,

>> sponsors, etc. -- spark conversations and gasps and guffaws and

>> tears,

>> and greatly increase awareness.

>>

>> Two years ago, several GED students voiced concerns that "ESL winners

>> were taking all the glory and attention, and taking all the prize

>> money" from the 'real' Americans... so this wonderful event has

>> brought to light a growing problem many of us have noticed -- and more

>

>> and more students (on both sides) are voicing.

>>

>> so, a question to this listserv:   Has anyone else observed or heard

>> of

>> discontent between ESL and GED students, between African Americans and

>> dark-skinned refugees ["they're lazy" "Why are they on welfare?"  Why

>> do

>> they resent us receiving social services?"  "Why don't they buy a

>> house;

>> we did.",  Why don't they clean up their yard?  Why does their house

>> smell different?"] between Asians (with a perceived or real higher

>> socio-economic status) and other international students, between

>> genders, between the issues of all 'isms' ["that organization is for

>> citizens, not for the ESL community -- they don't understand our

>> problem

>> (spouse/partner/parent physical abuse -- by women and by men --

>> including wives physically abusing their husbands)" and between ESL

>> and

>> GED teachers (perceived and/or voiced prejudices and/or approaches

>> and/or assumptions) -- within the "communities" that adult education

>> classrooms strive to build?    How have (or not) literacy activities

>> helped to incite or ease, to increase awareness, to enable

>> assistance,

>> to practice civic participation, etc. within your programs and the

>> surrounding greater communities?

>>

>> Do you/have you addressed these issues via literacy-related

>> activities?  [within classroom, between students, between students and

>

>> teachers, between students and community, between teachers, between

>> teachers and

>> administrators]?   If so, how/where/to whom are these written words

>> disseminated?

>>

>> Thanks (sorry so long) -- responses to any of the above will be read

>> with interest, Holly

>>

>> "No matter what our attempts to inform, it is our ability to inspire

>> that will turn the tides." Holly Dilatush

>> ESL distance learning, Dialogue Cafe, Volunteer coordinator

>> Charlottesville City Schools Adult Learning Center

>> 1000 Preston Ave., Suite D

>> Charlottesville  VA  22903

>> (434) 245.2815 office

>> (434) 960.7177 cell/mobile

>> http://theHsmile.org  ['home' to several Moodle CMS (course management

>> systems/virtual classrooms)]

>> http://www.Charlottesville-ESL.org

>> "Live with intention. Share inside~out smiles, inspire hope, seek awe

>> and nurture in nature."

>>

>>

>> Message from Karen, a listserv subscriber:

>>

>> Hello everyone,

>> Here's my quick intro. I teach ABE (and some GED) in Gorham, Maine - a

>

>> small college town just west of Portland.  I also work closely with

>> our family literacy program, co-facilitating a monthly Moms' Night Out

>

>> at a

>> local mobile home park. I'm on the conference planning committee for

>> WE

>> LEARN. I volunteer for the Maine Women's Fund, and I'm involved with

>> the

>> Feminist Spiritual Community of Portland, Maine.

>>

>> 1. What are your interests in women, poverty, race and literacy?

>>

>> The majority of my students are women, and almost all of them are

>> living in or just above poverty. In this particular community, they

>> are living in

>> poverty within a very affluent community so there is an added pressure

>> to

>> "pass" as middle class. I spend a fair amount of time trying to

>> demystify

>> the rules that are at work keeping women in poverty and sharing the

>> skills

>> that might help women move out of poverty.

>>

>> I'm interested in where and how poverty, race, and sex intersect, and

>> I'm interested in identifying practical tools that I as an educator

>> can supply

>> my students with. I believe that increasing literacy is of tremendous

>> benefit to those of us who experience any form of oppression, but

>> sometimes I find it difficult to convey the reasons for my belief to

>> students who are skeptical.

>>

>> Race is an easy subject to avoid in Maine where there is not a great

>> deal of racial diversity. I try not to avoid it, though, and instead

>> deal with

>> issues related to race as they come up. I address racist, sexist,

>> homophobic, (and so on!) comments when they are made regardless of who

>> is

>> in the room. I think it can be easy to let something go because

> there's

>> no

>> one there to be directly insulted or offended. Sometimes it is a

>> struggle

>> for me to confront racist/sexist or otherwise oppressive attitudes in

>> a

>> way that is productive and respectful of the student behind the

>> comments.

>> I hope that I will learn from all of you more about how to skillfully

>> handle these situations.

>>

>>

>> 2. What are your hopes for this listserv?

>>

>> I hope for thoughtful, considerate reflection and discussion. I hope

>> for a recognition of both where forms of oppression intersect and

>> where they diverge. I hope this will be a place where we can all

>> practice our skills.

>> I hope for a combination of accountability and compassion. I hope this

>> will be a space conducive to learning and reflection. I also hope that

>> traffic won't be excessive; it can be so overwhelming to open a

>> full-to-bursting mailbox! On this last bit, Daphne, is there a digest

>> option available for this list?

>>

>> I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you. Respectfully,

>> Karen Wyman

>>

>>

>> Message from Carolina, a listserv subscriber:

>>

>> Hi, to all of you, empowering women out there

>>

>> I do not teach, but looking forward to teach Adult Ed and Spanish GED.

>> I am from Calexico, California and recently moved to Louisville,

>> Kentucky to work for the National Center for Family Literacy within

>> the

>> Hispanic Family Learning Institute.  My parents are from Mexico

>> (Dad=Guadalajara,Mom=Baja California), and I am the oldest of four

>> children.  I hold a BA in Public Administration and I am pursuing a

>> Masters in Urban Planning.

>>

>> As you can tell by my cultural background my interest in empowering

>> women come from the childhood experience I had of living with a Macho

>> father and a submissive mother in a low socioeconomic environment.

>> However, my mother had a strong opinion on education and that made it

>> possible for me and my siblings to obtain a university education.

>>

>> I am a strong advocate for programs that provide direct service, and

>> to

>> programs that educate the general public (both men, and more so women)

>> about the faulty expectations and assumptions we have on women.  Many

>> of

>> these expectations have hundreds of years of tradition behind them,

>> but

>> modernization and globalization has set new guidelines and many of the

>> roles of women have changed.  This is a reality that both men and

>> women

>> need to accept and adjust to modern social standards.

>>

>> Women do not need to feel guilty or are less of a women if they chose

>> not to have children, get married, or learn how to cook in order to

>> fulfill a professional career...We have a choice!  We are equal!- Emma

>> Goldman, Eva Peron, Frida Khalo, Dorothy Day, Sor Juana de la Cruz,

>> Padre Eusebio Kino, and Octavio Paz...have greatly influenced me in

>> this

>> journey for gender and social justice.

>>

>> At the moment I am working on a Spanish Literacy project called "Plaza

>> Comunitaria" in conjunction with the Indianapolis Mexican Consulate

>> and

>> a Hispanic Women Center called "Casa Latina Woodbine"- a place that

>> provides food and shelter to poor women and also helps them acquire

>> skills to reach financial independence.  Many of the women we serve

>> are

>> recent immigrants and have little or no literacy skills in their

>> native

>> language.  The program enables them to acquire these skills, hence

>> making the transition into ESL classes a lot easier.  We plan to

>> incorporate financial literacy, lifelong learning courses, and college

>> prep courses, as a part of a tentative p-16 program for the women with

>> children.

>>

>> I hope that out of this list we can arrange to convene twice a year to

>> transform words into actions for the welfare of the women and children

>> in poverty.

>>

>> Respectfully,

>>

>> Carolina Palero

>> Administrative Assistant

>> Hispanic Family Learning Institute

>> National Center for Family Literacy

>> 325 W. Main Street, Suite 300

>> Louisville, KY 40202

>> Tel. (502) 584-1133 Ext. 136

>> Fax. (502) 584-0172

>> e-mail: cpalero at famlit.org

>> website: www.famlit.org

>> -----------------------------------------------

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>>

>>

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>

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