In the first phase of our study, supportive partners, children, friends and 
coworkers were identified by students as the most important support to 
persistence. However, some students did mention people in their lives who 
were not supportive. In the second phase of the study, we looked into this. 
We found some passive aggressive behaviors. So, even in cases where 
domestic violence does not exist, partners, friends, (we even found a 
mother) can put up subtle but significant barriers to persistence.

--On Tuesday, July 11, 2006 9:07 AM -0500 e s <e.b.shupe at lycos.com> wrote:


> Hello Everyone,

> Very interesting discussion with lots of insight into the multi-faceted

> topic of "persistence" of adult learners.  On the topic of domestic

> violence, I have used film to introduce the the topic of domestic

> violence.  In particular, The Joy Luck Club.  One of the overarching

> themes in this movie, is the way cultural norms keep women (and men) in

> rigified roles. Men sometimes act out these roles in abusive ways and

> women defer and find themselves powerless.  It does the allow learners

> the safety of distance in looking at this issue through the experiences

> of others in the film.  We spend time after the movie discussing the

> experiences of the characters in the film.  I use the blackboard to keep

> track of the discussion providing some structure to the discussion.

> (problems/solutions)  It has always been a powerful way to introduce a

> topic that can leave everyone feeling uncomfortable.

>

> --

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John Comings, Director
National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy
Harvard Graduate School of Education
7 Appian Way
Cambridge MA 02138
(617) 496-0516, voice
(617) 495-4811, fax
(617) 335-9839, mobile
john_comings at harvard.edu
http://ncsall.gse.harvard.edu