Colleagues, Re inhuman and malicious treatment of women and girls, has anyone read about the phenomenon of "widows" in India? It was a widespread practice at the time of WWII and even today some 34 million women and girls in India are living out their lives as widows. I realize this discussion is about books and reading, but I strongly recommend the powerful film "Water," which is playing in movie theaters now. It may lead to some interesting discussion and reading. Gail S



-----Original Message-----

>From: Andrea Wilder <andreawilder at comcast.net>

>Sent: May 30, 2006 9:19 AM

>To: The Women and Literacy Discussion List <womenliteracy at nifl.gov>

>Subject: [WomenLiteracy 297] Re: "Are Women Human?"  Catherine	McKinnon

>

>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

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>>> Find the whole issue at:

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>>> 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

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