Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.3/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id NAA15601; Fri, 23 Jun 2000 13:20:04 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 13:20:04 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <01JQXT5P885W9PNNGG@mala.bc.ca> 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: nonesuch@mala.bc.ca To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:830] How does a feminist teach? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail for Win32 (v3.11) Status: O Content-Length: 1689 Lines: 46 How does a feminist teach? I have been pondering this question for many years, and would be interested in hearing other responses to this question. While I don't expect that any of my students are or will become feminists, I know that my feminist stance makes me a different kind of teacher. Here's are some things I aim at, because I am a feminist, although I am not always as successful as I would like to be: I work with students to make the place safe for everyone. I bring in content that reflects everyone's life, and deal with the flack I get for it. I try to make space for people to work in ways they might not work in other areas of their lives. For example, I try not to ask women in the class to help me manage the men's emotions. I assume anyone can show leadership in any part of the program. I teach skills I expect people to use in the class, whether it be how to make coffee, chair a meeting or be assertive about maintaining their own space. That way, people who don't have certain skills, possibly because of their gender, can take a more equal part. I acknowledge (often out loud) the differences in people's experiences, knowledge and reactions, rather than ignoring them. As one of my students said recently, "We all express our sameness differently." I wouldn't like to say that only feminists share these goals, or that all feminists do; just that I think of myself primarily as a feminist, and have come to these ideas from that point of view. Kate Nonesuch Literacy Co-ordinator Reading and Writing Centre Malaspina University-College 222 Cowichan Way Duncan, BC V9L 6P4 Phone: (250)715-1420 Fax: (250) 746-3563
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