Monthly Archives: January 2014

Reflection on Stromquist

This is a better argued paper than some, connecting literacy education for women with their aspirations and actions to achieve a more equal and effective part in society. The inadequacy of literacy education for its own sake and the need to embed literacy education in a form of political project or other form of practical relevance is argued from a number of viewpoints.

The language is reasonably dispassionate hence provides a more objective source of reference material than some of the more stridently feminist treatise.

Reflections on Subrahmanian

This paper is a gender equality review loosely disguised as a development paper. Most of what is said applies equally to the developed as the less developed world – which is accepted via examples from France and UK.

Most of the issues identified are societal in nature, rather than a choice to limit female opportunity. There is a strong theme of positive discrimination – men are encouraged to make efforts to equalise the unequal burden of reproductive activities. No mention here of unequal burden on men in matters requiring physical strength.

A useful comment at the end on ‘blokish’ stereotypes and their tendency to cause boys to underperform.

Useful categorisation and defiinitions of gender parity, gender equality and gender equity but a bit too dogma ridden to seem very useful in making practical progress.