feminist article that I like.

Sexism continues to exist today, in adult education, and in all aspects of society. According to Taylor,

 

Peplau and Sears  (1994) “sexism refers to prejudice (negative attitudes) and discrimination (biased

 

behavior) based on gender.  If we are to eliminate sexism, we must first notice when it occurs.” (p.381).  In

 

today’s society, sexism is often overlooked. This is due to the fact that sexism has always existed.  Women

 

have always been perceived as a second class citizen. According to Poonwassie and Poonwassie (2001)

 

‘Sexism is an ideology that is historically rooted in values, perceptions and social justifications that women

 

are less than men and  some cases, less than humans.”  (p.259).  On modern day example of this,  which

 

continues to be practiced today, is the practice of women taking their husband’s family name after

 

marriage.  This tradition expects women to give up their last names and in essence, their personal identities,

 

and take on their husband’s name and identity. This practice devalues women.  This practice suggests that 

 

the person the women were before marriage, no longer deserves to be acknowledged. The wife has lost her

 

own identity as she now becomes property of her husband, and therefore,  should take his name. This

 

example clearly shows how men continue to dominate women and how society continues to allow this to

 

occur.  According to Merriam and Caffarella (1999)  the adult education  system mirrors society.

 

“Institutions of learning and the classroom itself reproduce the power structures found in society” (p.359).

 

So by acknowledging the problem in adult education, we can start to progress towards a society where

 

women and men are truly equal.

 

     Even though improvements have been made in creating a more egalitarian system for women in

 

adult education, many improvements are still necessary.  Today, sexist language can still be found in  adult

 

education textbooks.  Even though,  much improvement has been made in the effort to eliminate

 

sexist language from textbooks , it is clear that sexist language continues to appear, and this is most

 

evident in  English as a second language instruction.  According to Stanley (2001) sexist language

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continues to be evident in  ESL textbooks. Examples of these  were omission ‘s whereas “males appeared

 

more frequently than females.” (p.1). Firstness  “when a male and female are mentioned, the male is almost

 

always put first”. (p.1)   Poonwassie and Poonwassie (2001) further illustrate this view  in that

 

“language that  reflects or reinforces gender bias and the inclusion or exclusion of women (textbooks or

 

communication.)” (p.258) also reflects the attitudes towards women in the classroom and in society in

 

general. It is therefore important to eliminate sexist language from all aspects of adult education, so that

 

women will be given the same educational rights as men.  That is to be an included and active participant in

 

the learning process.

 

     Another possible reason why sexism continues to exist in adult education can be the fact that according

 

to Poonwassie and Poonwassie (2001) “while women are a majority in undergraduate fields, they are a

 

minority in graduate-level study.” (p.260) This can be traced to society’s definition of gender stereotypes

 

and how they directly influence adult education.  According to Taylor, Peplau and Sears (1994)  gender

 

stereotypes can be defined as “beliefs about the personal attributes of females and males.” (p.373).  The

 

concern, in regards to the use of gender stereotypes, is that it is usually detrimental to women. Due to this

 

belief women are usually seen as the weaker sex.  According to Taylor, Paplau and Sears (1994) “research

 

finds that men are commonly rated higher than women on traits associated with competence, such as

 

leadership, objectivity, and independence”. (p.375) Traits that in society are considered important

 

especially, if one wants to be successful in life. “In contrast, women are usually rated higher on

 

traits associated with warmth and expressiveness, such as gentleness and awareness of the feelings of

 

others.”(p.375) These traits are not considered important in today’s society. These gender stereotypes are

 

also evident in the adult education system.  It seems that adult education, continues to place more value on

 

the male student as opposed to the female student. According to Poonwassie and Poonwassie (2001)

 

there continues to exist today “an underlying liberal and male bias in the study and practices of  adult

 

education.” (P.258)  Perhaps this contributes to the fact that “many women feel invisible rather than

 

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times”>present, silenced, rather than heard and isolated in their experiences and thoughts”.(p.256) It is also

 

common practice that  according to Merriam & Caffarella (1999) “white males tend to dominate a

 

classroom discussion.” (p.359) Further isolating the women of the class. Perhaps that is why distance

 

education is so appealing to women. They are able to express their points of view, free from the constraints

 

of gender stereotypes.  Women should be given the same opportunity as men, to be able to express

 

their ideas, and beliefs in a classroom, that should be non-judgmental and non threatening to women .It is

 

important to recognize the problems that gender stereotypes have on  the whole adult education system.

 

 According to Poonwassie and Poonwassie (2001) “Adult educators are obligated to understand  social

 

 factors in the lives of women that affect learning and learning opportunities.”(p.259)  Once women and

 

men are truly considered equal in the realm of the classroom and adult education, it will not be long before

 

the rest of society, will follow the example. According to Merriam & Caffarella (1999)  it is therefore

 

important that adult educators “examine how their own views and behaviors challenge or reproduce

 

society’s inequitable distribution of power.” (p.363).

 

     Perhaps the most concerning aspect in regards to sexism, in adult education,  is the topic of  sexual

 

harassment in education.  According to Amico (1998) sexual  harassment continues to be a problem for all

 

colleges and universities. Although we tend to think of sexual harassment as a work or job related 

 

problem, it is now becoming the focus as a adult education problem as well. “Sexual harassment of   

 

college students by their professors was a fact of campus life that many educators learn to ignore and in

 

their silence, to accept.” (p.549). When the adult education system continues to ignore the problem of

 

harassment against women, it further perpetuates the notion that women do not matter and that this sort of

 

abuse and violence against women is acceptable. “Sexual harassment is more than just a moral, legal and

 

financial concern. In a condition of fear or emotional discomfort, academic goals cannot be achieved.”

 

(p.550). Women deserve the same educational rights as men and should be able to participate in adult

 

education in an environment that will foster a sense of  security and safety.

 

     In conclusion,  it is important to realize that sexism has been a historical part of society and that is why

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it continues to exist today. However, since adult education  tends to reflect the feelings and attitudes of  the

 

larger society, it is therefore important to end sexism at the adult educational level.  By removing sexist

 

language, gender stereotypes and eliminating sexual harassment from adult education, the rest of society

 

will  do the same. According to Merriam and Caffarella (1999) “the public world begins with a safe

 

classroom where members can support and nurture each other. This connected environment will help

 

women develop their own voices and see themselves as capable of being constructors of knowledge rather

 

than just recipients."”(p.360) Adult education and society, will greatly benefit, once sexism truly becomes a

 

thing of the past.       

     ……………………………………………..

It amazes me how people in this world still are. What amazes me even more is that nine out of ten times it is women alone that set other women back . All womankind stood up and said enough is enough way back when..But yet not enough of us stand u and still say that.

I say stand up and demand ladies.

If you think things are injust..stand up. And if you do stand up and are labelled a bitch because of it, Just realize this. That is their insecurities. IT is of absolutely no reflection on you. If any man demanded what they want they would be strong. You have vocal cords. Use them.

……………

Sorry for that rant. Just felt like speaking up. If you think i am a bitch..Then get your priorities and realizations and insecurities in order.;)

And for anyone that wants to know it is my birthday…Hurrah.

I am now 28.

Special day for this lady lemme tell you. It was of course greeted with things like:

When are you going to have a brother or sister for bud.

When are you going to do..Whatever role most females do that I deny and because I am getting older they feel I must rush out and match these goals. These ridiculously absurd gioals I have absolutely no desire to match.

I love my life how it is.

It is just what I want.

I feel what I want is completely correlated to many others might also want..After all: who does not want to be loved,to be happy and to be content.

I feel that this is the most important. I wish everyone..Just this.

Adios,Siarai