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2019 Annual Conference

October 8–11, 2019

St. Louis, MO

Gender, Literacy and Africana Womanism: Theoretical discourse in the discipline

Friday, October 11, 2019 at 8:00 AM–8:45 AM CDT
Grand F (85)
Select the FIRST area in which your presentation best fits.

Adult Development

Presentation Format Requested

Concurrent Session (45 minutes)

Session Abstract

This session will explore gendered literacies and challenges to the existing mainstream assumptions of race, class and gender. It will present paradigm shifts and address new theoretical affirmations that are shaping a uniquely suitable identity and status that meet the needs and aspirations of women of color. 

Target Audience

The session is appropriate for a wide variety of conference attendees including professors, researchers, practitioners, and students of adult education interested in the emerging paradigm shifts such as Africana Womanism  in gender studies  that examine the status and identity of women of color and how their needs can be conceptualised and addressed. The session invites adult educators in the field of gender and development studies and its intersection with adult literacy studies.

Learning Outcomes

-- Learners will gain knowledge of key theories and concepts that relate to women’s studies including feminism, womanism, African feminism and Africana womanism and how they intersect with adult literacy studies
-- Learners will acquire knowledge of the meaning of gendered inequality and concepts related to empowerment of women
-- Learners will be apprised of the intersection of literacy and gender inequality in this society and in other areas of the world where change can be gradual or revolutionary.
-- Learners will learn about social justice movements and gender changes pertinent to adult education imperatives.

Session Description

In adult education, we are challenged with the rapid pace of social change in family and work life as it pertains to women. Feminism was needed and long overdue but as a concept it did not do enough for African American women or women of color even against the arguments of bell hooks, a strong feminist advocate. African American women found themselves on the periphery and their marginalization in this movement with strong European ideals necessitated a new orientation that advocatred for the everyday experiences and social justice realities that confront women of color in our societies. Patricia Hill Collins’ scholarship in her seminal work of 2000 (Black Feminist Thought) outlined the social construction of black feminist thought as a critical social theory within the feminist epistermology. Collins drew on the rich intellectual tradition of black women and brought out their contributions from the shadows. This tradition remained low waiting to be reclaimed. In 1983, Alice Walker recaptured the uniqueness of black intellectual thought with womanism. This conceptualization was further explored in 1993 with Africana Womanism: Reclaiming ourselves by Clenora Hudson-Weems giving rise to the importance of self-naming. Self-naming remains important for the educated as well as the illiterate woman of color in adult education studies.

Format & Technique

I do not currently have someone with whom i can share my session but I have no opposition to sharing. Presently, my session will be a PPT session with clearly marked slides with embedded videos to present current data on the theories.

Primary Presenter

Daphne Ntiri, Wayne State University
Work Title

Gender, literacy and Africana womanism: Theoretical discourse in the discipline

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