The Portrayal of Women in Adult Learning 1989

Abstract

Women’s workforce and higher education participation have increased in the past 30 years. This article reviews the literature on women in Adult Learning from 1989 through 2022. Key findings include that women were portrayed as marginalized, deficient, learners, educators, juggling social roles, and resilient. Various positionalities marginalized women, including gender, race, class, ethnicity, immigrant status, and religion. The intersection of positionalities affected women’s lives. Findings have implications for researchers and practitioners.

Keywords

literature review women intersectionality adult learning

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Andruske

C. L.

(2003). Self-directed learning projects of women on welfare as political acts. Adult Learning, 14(4), 13–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515950301400404

Arsenault

(1993). Looking more closely—women’s contributions to adult education. Adult Learning, 4(5), 6. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959300400503

Arsenault

(1994). The education of an adult educator. Adult Learning, 5(3), 8–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959400500303

Baird

I. C.

(1994). The humanities for homeless women: A paradox for learning. Adult Learning, 5(3), 13–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959400500306

Baumgartner

L. M.

Zarestky

Lechuga

(2024). Women academics’ learning as a result of being bullied. Adult Learning, 35(1), 13–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/10451595221129658

Belenky

M. F.

Clinchy

B. M.

Goldberger

N. R.

Tarule

J. M.

(1997). Women’s ways of knowing (10th anniversary edition). Basic Books.

Bierema

(2000). Action learning about gender issues. Adult Learning, 11(3), 18–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959901100307

Bonnett

Newsom

(1995). Education and empowerment: Confronting beliefs and attitudes to promote learning. Adult Learning, 7(1), 9–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959500700105.

Brookfield

(1995). Becoming a critically reflective teacher. Jossey-Bass.

10.

Buck

M. A.

Mercer

W. N.

St Clair

N. S.

Herbers

M. S.

(2019). The joy of learning: A case study of a transformative educator and activist. Adult Learning, 30(3), 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159518821326

11.

Butler

(1990). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Routledge.

12.

Collins

P. H.

(1990). Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination. In Collins

P. H.

(Ed.), Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and politics of empowerment (pp. 221–238). Hyman.

13.

Collins

P. H.

Bilge

(2020). Intersectionality. Wiley.

14.

Cranton

(2016). Understanding and promoting transformative learning: A guide to theory and practice (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

15.

Deer

Baumgartner

L. M.

(2019). “I can relate”: Survivor leadership supporting women transitioning out of the sex trade. Adult Learning, 30(4), 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159519848681

16.

Denith

A. M.

Wright

R. R.

Coryell

(2015). Those mean girls and their friends: Bullying and mob rule in the academy. Adult Learning, 26(1), 28–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159514558409

17.

Family caregiver demographics and statistics . (2024). Zippia. https://www.zippia.com/family-caregiver-jobs/demographics/

18.

Flemming

Nelson

(2007). Mission possible: Transforming women and building communities. Adult Learning, 18(3–4), 20–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515950701800304

19.

Gatua

M. W.

(2009). Overcoming the odds: Challenges and successes of sub-Saharan African women seeking higher education in the United States. Adult Learning, 20(3–4), 16–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515950902000306

20.

Gatua

M. W.

(2014). Sailing against the wind: Voices of Kenyan adult women in U. S. postsecondary education and sociocultural contexts. Adult Learning, 25(2), 39–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159514522434

21.

Gaudine

A. P.

Moralejo

D. G.

(2011). What can faculty members and programs do to improve students’ learning? ISRN Nursing, 2011(6), Article 649431. https://doi.org/10.5402/2011/649431

22.

Gold

M. S.

(2000). The making of an adult educator: Moving beyond empathy. Adult Learning, 11(4), 31–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959901100412

23.

Griffin

Sarcyk

Swarts

Youngkin

(1993). ABE women: Gaining a new voice. Adult Learning, 5(2), 19–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959300500210

24.

Han

P. C.

(2022). A blueprint of leadership development for female marriage migrants: A pilot exploration in taiwan. Adult Learning, 33(4), 168–181. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13644

25.

Hayes

Smith

(1994). Women in adult education: An analysis of perspectives in major journals. Adult Education Quarterly, 44(4), 201–221. https://doi.org/10.1177/074171369404400402

26.

hooks

(1984). Feminist theory: From margin to center. Routledge.

27.

Imel

Bersch

G. T.

(Eds.), (2014). No small lives: Handbook of North American early women adult educators, 1925-1950. IAP.

28.

Johnson-Bailey

(2015). Academic incivility and bullying as a gendered and racialized phenomena. Adult Learning, 26(1), 42–47. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159514558414

29.

Karlovic

(1993). Jessie Allan Charters: A voice of our times. Adult Learning, 4(5), 13–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959300400508

30.

Kett

J. F.

(1994). The pursuit of knowledge under difficulties: From self-improvement to adult education in America. 1750-1990. Stanford University Press.

31.

Machovec

(2023). Working women: Data from the past, present, and future. US Department of Labor Blog. https://blog.dol.gov/2023/03/15/working-women-data-from-the-past-present-and-future

32.

Mezirow

(2000). Learning to think like an adult: Core concepts of transformation theory. In Mezirow

, & Associates (Eds.), Learning as transformation. Critical perspectives on a Theory in progress (pp. 3–33). Jossey-Bass.

33.

Murray-Johnson

K. K.

(2013). Cultural (de) coding and racial identity among women of the African diaspora in U. S. adult higher education. Adult Learning, 24(2), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159513477845

34.

Nah

(1999). Can a self-directed learner be independent, autonomous, and interdependent? Implications for practice. Adult Learning, 11(1), 18–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959901100106

35.

National Center for Education Statistics . (2022). Postbaccalaureate enrollment. Condition of education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/chb

36.

Pelligrino

Hoggan

(2015). A tale of two transitions: Female military veterans during their first year of community college. Adult Learning, 26(3), 124–131. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159515583257

37.

Peterson

E. A.

(2002) (Revised edition). Freedom road: Adult education of African Americans. Krieger.

38.

Petz

(2009). Superwoman gets a reality check. Adult Learning, 20(3–4), 23–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515950902000308

39.

Rapp

D. R.

Rhodes

C. M.

Stokes

(2006). Journey to the center of the graduate experience. Adult Learning, 17(1–4), 37–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515950601700113

40.

Ray

S. M.

(2021). Nuances of safety: Women immigrant entrepreneurs in the United States. Adult Learning, 32(3), 132–135. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159520975099

41.

Ray

S. M.

Galvan

Zarestky

(2018). Gender-inclusive educational programs for workforce development. Adult Learning, 29(3), 94–103. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159518759733

42.

Rice

J. K.

(1993). Back to school: Women, welfare, and access to higher education. Adult Learning, 4(5), 10–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959300400506

43.

Ritchie

Roser

(2024). Gender ratio. OurWorldInData.org. https://ourworldindata.org/gender-ratio#:∼:text=aroundtheworld-,Whatshareofthepopulationismaleandfemale%3F,ratio%2Cvaryaroundtheworld

44.

Rose

(1993). Women as learners. Adult Learning, 4(5), 5. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959300400502

45.

Sanczyk

(2020). Creating inclusive adult ESL classrooms through promoting culturally responsive pedagogy. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education, 9(2), 5–16.

46.

Sedivy-Benton

Strohschen

Cavazos

Boden-McGill

(2015). Good ’ol boys, mean girls, and tyrants: A phenomenological study of the lived experiences and survival strategies of bullied women adult educators. Adult Learning, 26(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159514558411

47.

Sehin

Coryell

Stewart

(2016). Engendering hope: Women’s disengagement in change in Afghanistan. Adult Learning, 28(3), 91–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159516679357

48.

Simoncini

Pamphilon

Mikhailovich

(2016). Place-based picture books as an adult learning tool: Supporting agricultural learning in Papua New Guinea. Adult Learning, 28(2), 61–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159516668815

49.

Snyder

(1993). 120 years of American education: A statistical portrait. Office of Educational Research and Improvement. National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=93442

50.

Straw

(1993). Changing world views and opening hearts: Including women writers in the syllabus. Adult Learning, 5(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959300500112

51.

Stubblefield

H. W.

Keane

(1994). Adult education in the American experience: From the colonial period to the present. Jossey-Bass.

52.

Torraco

(2016). Writing integrative literature reviews: Using the past and present to explore the future. Human Resource Development Review, 15(4), 404–428. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484316671606

53.

Ugurel Kamisli

(2021). Acculturation experiences of Syrian Muslim refugee women in the United States: Intersectionality of nationality, religion, gender, and refugee status. Adult Learning, 32(3), 103–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159520962852

54.

Wilson

(1990). Immigrant women as advocates. Adult Learning, 2(3), 12–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/104515959000200305

55.

Yan Fang

J. T.

Yusof

(2014). Surviving women’s learning experiences from the tsunami in Aceh. Adult Learning, 25(1), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159513510148

56.

Zarestky

(2016). Escaping preconceived notions: One educator’s teaching experience in West Africa. Adult Learning, 27(2), 84–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159515594182

The Portrayal of Women in Adult Learning 1989–2022: A Literature Review

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References