Women's literacy power: Collaborative approaches to developing and distributing women's literacy resources

This dissertation project explores adult women's literacy through the availability of women-centered literacy materials. While suggesting reasons for their scarcity, this dissertation project illuminates the need for authentic reading and literacy materials specifically addressing the issues and concerns of women learners. Through a discussion of literacy paradigms and the politics of publishing, it reveals how women's literacy resources are crucial for women's literacy and liberation.;With the assistance of qualitative methodological tools, the research methodology uses a feminist and critical Freirean-based research paradigm relying heavily on action research and participatory research principles. Using conversation circles, this research centralizes the voices of adult women learners and explores with them what reading materials would enrich or change their lives and experiences as women. Through questionnaires and other conversations, literacy workers and librarians identified what types of women-centered literacy materials are needed and would be used in their curriculum.;In general, this research demonstrates the need for literacy resources and authentic reading materials for adult women learners. If women-centered literacy materials were more easily available, both women learners and literacy workers said they would use them. They also identified topics and formats for women-centered literacy materials. Their recommendations provided foundation for building WE LEARN, a network of women learners, literacy workers, librarians, and others interested in working collaboratively to create, evaluate and distribute women-centered literacy materials. WE LEARN (Women Expanding - Literacy Education Action Resource Network)---housed on the Internet at www.litwomen.org/welearn.html---includes a Resource List of women-centered literacy materials already available and offers a place for women-centered participatory praxis. As an emerging non-profit organization, WE LEARN will continue to encourage women-centered literacy materials as a way to affect women's literacy power bringing transformation and justice to women's lives. From the lessons learned through this research process, WE LEARN aims to develop the leadership and knowledge-base of adult women learners, involve the experiences of literacy workers and librarians, and support a participatory process of emancipating feminist literacies.*.;*This dissertation is a compound document (contains both a paper copy and a CD as part of the dissertation). The CD requires the following system requirement: Internet browser.