Daphne,

Thanks for asking.

I'll think over your question today.

I'll be using McKinnon later on in my writing, so I haven't digested 
all that she said--but here is a tidbit:  The manner  in which she 
engaged the audience in dialogue.  This was a terrific model for all of 
us, showing what is possible.
She took women's questions seriously, made notes  on paper, then 
carefully spoke her thoughts.  The questions were complex, too..  This 
is respect.

Here is another example:  a woman asked about female genital 
mutilation, and the idea of "respect for other cultures," kind of a 
bugaboo.  McKinnon immediately cited the attitudes of the African (I 
know it's a big continent) women she had worked with--they agreed 
instantly that genital mutilation was a bad idea, no problem there.  As 
  it is written about often in the US, there is mention of women who 
would lose income, and what that would do to the female economy--there 
is sympathy, whereas McKinnon has none, and the African women she works 
with had none.  And of course it is a horrible practice.

She goes further than anyone I have listened to on the enslavement of 
women, legally, and of the use of women and the rape of women as male 
policy  during war.  In Bosnia women weren't only raped, the rapes were 
filmed and shown on television.  Kind  of ultimate "snuff films."

People really should read this book.  It should be part of any stock on 
books for a program.  or, share out the cost.

Andrea

p.s., By the way,  Harvard Bookstore is an independent bookseller, and 
has kept going  partly through book talks--newly published authors who 
will travel to promote their book.  The tickets I get are $3, sometimes 
a little more, but affordable.  I have found the book lectures are a 
great networking place, as all the people who come are interested in 
the same topic.

The talks are held in the bookstore itself, in the Brattle Theater, 
kind of down at the heels, but centrally located to mass transit, and  
a local church about 5 steps away from transit.  Harvard Bookstore 
brings a pile of books to each book reading, people OFTEN buy the books 
after the talk, then the author signs the books.  No food served.  The 
hour for the book talk is ALWAYS convenient, maybe  5, 5:30, 6, or 
6:30, not later.  The talk lasts maybe 1/2 hr, and the second part of 
the 1/2 hour is used for taking questions.

AW

On May 29, 2006, at 10:50 PM, Daphne Greenberg wrote:


> Andrea,

> Thank you for sharing this with us. I am wondering what message did 

> you get from her book, or her talk that you think would be 

> powerful/meaningful for adult learners, adult literacy 

> teachers/administrators to read/hear?

> Daphne

>

>>>> andreawilder at comcast.net 05/29/06 5:42 PM >>>

> Hello, all--

>

> I am piggybacking on someone else's topic(thank you!)  This is a new

> topic.

>

> I have just  cited the title of Catherine McKinnon's new book, a

> humdinger, wonderfully thought out and quite painful to read--of course

> I must say that everyone should--i have jsut skimmed it, so am now

> expert.

>

> I heard  her speak recently, was bowled over, the talk included

> extremely thoughtful questions from the audience, and I have NEVER

> heard before the kind of thoughtful verbal interaction that happened.

> We were treated right there in the Brattle Theater of Cambridge, MA as

> PEOPLE worthy of RESPECT.

>

> McKinnon is a lawyer with an international practice, she has also

> worked for the UN as a consultant.  She is extremely elegant, tall,

> thin, long  hair swept up and pinned on top of her head--a dynamic,

> arresting presence.

>

> Andrea

>

> On May 28, 2006, at 9:13 AM, Daphne Greenberg wrote:

>

>> Following is a message from Julie McKinney, moderator of the Focus on

>> Basics

>> discussion list about upcoming discussions on that list that will be 

>> of

>> interest to some of you on this list. If you are intereseted, please

>> subscribe to the list at:

>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/focusonbasics

>>

>>

>> ******************************************************

>> I want to give you a heads-up on next month's rich schedule of weekly

>> discussions with Focus On Basics authors. The following authors will

>> discuss their articles from the recent issue of Focus On Basics, Vol.

>> 8B, which is about Learners' Experiences.

>>

>> Find the whole issue at:

>> http://www.ncsall.net/?id=1103

>>

>> June 5-9:

>> Jessica Tomkins

>> Video as a Professional Development Tool

>> http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=1107

>>

>> June 12-16:

>> Alisa Belzer

>> Influences on the Reading Practices of Adults in ABE

>> http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=1108

>>       and

>> Learners on Learning to Read

>> http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=1110

>>

>> June 25-30:

>> Hal Beder

>> Shaping and Sustaining Learner Engagement in Individualized Group

>> Instruction Classrooms

>> http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=1106

>>

>> Please pass on the word to colleagues who may be interested in these

>> discussions! Anyone can subscribe to the list at:

>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/focusonbasics

>>

>> ----------------------------------------------------

>> National Institute for Literacy

>> Women and Literacy mailing list

>> WomenLiteracy at nifl.gov

>> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

>> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/womenliteracy

>>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Women and Literacy mailing list

> WomenLiteracy at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/womenliteracy

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Women and Literacy mailing list

> WomenLiteracy at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/womenliteracy

>