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 IAA03235; Tue, 16 May 2000 08:31:35 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 08:31:35 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <200005161228.HAA08892@icicle.winternet.com> 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: Mev Miller <mev@winternet.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:708] Fwd: Re: NLA Discussion: Gender issues in the AELS X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Status: OR Dear womenlits. A week or so ago, Tom Sticht sent a question to the NLA list to which I responded. Daphne suggested I forward it to this group -- also it seems to fit in our on-going conversation of "men." I am sending a part of Tom's question, then my reply. Happy reading. Mev _____________________ Tom's question: A Policy Question: Is the Adult Education and Literacy System (AELS) >Meeting the Needs of Men? > >Over the years, women have consistently outnumbered men in adult >education. For instance, in 1970 men made up 43 percent and women 57 >percent of enrollees. In 1980 the distribution was 44 percent men and 56 >percent women and by 1993 men made up 47 and women 53 percent of >enrollees. > > Generally, adults who participate in adult education programs are a >younger group. In 1981, 42 percent of adult enrollees were aged 16 to >24. This declined by 4 percent to 38 percent in 1988 and to 37 percent >in 1996. During this time the percentage of adult education >participants in the age 25-44 years range increased from 39 percent in >1981 to 46 percent in 1996. As a general trend, since 1976 over 80 >percent of adult education participants have been under the age of 45 >years. About 10 to 12 percent have been in the age 45 to 64 year range, >and about 5 percent have been age 60 years and above. >There is an interaction of age and gender in adult education enrollments >such that as age increases, the percentage of women enrollees increases. >In 1988, men enrollees aged 16-24 outnumbered females by about 3 >percentage points, but by age 60, women outnumbered men by some 34 >percent. > >These data raise questions about the relative effectiveness of AELS >programs for meeting the needs of men, particulary as men grow older. >Are there studies of this phenomenon of the age decrement in male >participation in AELS programs? Is this a significant policy issue for >the field to be concerned about? What are some of the problems in >attracting men to AELS programs? Is this issue related to the >differences in the numbers of males and females in the AELS teaching >corps? Should this issue appear in the literacy summit list of concerns? My response...... hmmm. Interesting idea so I think it may be what questions or information we look behind this -- that might still be related to gender issues on the "flip" side. I'm answering questions questions because I think how we approach/frame this could affect our conclusions. For example: 1) In the U.S., approximately 23% of all adult females have severely limited literacy skills, compared to 17% of males. For female heads of households, 75% with less than a high school diploma live in poverty, compared to 34% of men in the same situation (from By Women/For Women, Laubach Literacy Action, 1994). Does this mean there are more women in literacy programs because more of them have lower skills? Are the economic ramifications less problematic for men therefore making them less likely to pursue literacy goals? do older men have more steady job opportunities than do older women who may later in life find themselves on their own because of divorce or becoming a widow-- thus making her economic need to seek literacy more urgent? women live longer than men, in general, does this have something to do with the higher numbers of older women than men in adult education? 2) what about the family literacy connection? more women tend to be responsible for raising children which may make them more inclined to seek literacy as they want to get involved in childrens' (or grandchildrens') schooling. 3) and though the percentages may be higher for women, I've been talking to literacy workers about the kinds of materials avaialble in most centers and there are two emerging issues: 1) the literacy materials available by and large do NOT address many of the specific needs of women, and 2) most of the workplace/job related materials are geared towards men. We might ask that even if there are more women than men in programs are their needs REALLY being met? Are the materials being used more relevant to men than they are for women thus slowing down the achievement of women who are in the programs? 4) also, I'd be interested to know attrition/reentry rates. even though there may be more women than men, who stays in programs the longest? do women or men quit and restart more frequently? and maybe there are some other factors, too. Does your question relate to a particular kind of program? Does it include prison literacy programs? The incarceration of men is higher than women (though in MN, the #'s of women of color being incarcarated has risen dramatically over the past year, higher than the rate of men). But, if you're talking about literacy centers in the community to which people come of their own accord, perhaps the men who may be in most need of literacy are incarcerated thus affecting their percentage of participation. and for either men or women, I understand that the numbers of people who pursue adult education are much lower than the numbers of people who test out as "needing" literacy (e.g. the numbers on the NALS survey). maybe there's something in why this large percentage is NOT seeking adult education that might shed light on the question you asked. hmmm.. all worth pondering. others ideas? Mev (Women Leading Through Reading) Mev Miller mev@winternet.com
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