Note to the Student: The contents contained in this section are a brief overview of this theory. If you choose to do an in-depth study of this theory, you are asked to note the references at the end of this section.
 
 

 A growing body of knowledge that is impacting the field of adult education is known as feminist pedagogy. Feminist pedagogy and research is an inquiry-based approach to understanding empowerment and emancipation.. It addresses this main question: Why are males (whites, degreed, abled) chosen for leadership positions over females (or racial minorities, non-degreed, disabled)?

The focus of its own research falls across three domains (Merriam, 1993):

1. how to teach women more effectively so that they gain a sense of their ability to effect change in their own lives.
2. An emphasis on connection and relationship (rather than separation) with both the knowledge learned and the facilitator and other learners
3. Women's emerging sense of personal power.

 There are two educational models: the liberatory model and the gender model. The liberatory or emancipatory model probes into asking the reasons why women (and minorities) are often silenced, overlooked, or discounted in variety of circles within society. It looks at examining such interlocking systems of oppression. At the root of this model is critical theory and the works of Freire, as a transformational theorist. The underlying philosophical assumption here is that the material realities of one's life significantly shape all aspects of their lives, including their values. The values of a middle-class white male has is and becomes quite different than a black working-class woman. Such a pattern is reproduced (reproduction theory) across all arenas of society, startiung from school through work. Therefore, the efforts to rid women and minorities from such an oppressive state must begin early in life and through increased awareness training and emancipatory experiences. At the same time, resistance theory (Welier, 1988) suggests that all persons have the capacity to resist the forces of oppression.

A more popular model is the gender model. Instead of deal with power relationships, its main focus is on the socialization of women as nurturers. The works of Belenky and colleagues and Gilligan have brought new inisghts into this arena of adult education. The empases of their writings focus on how women learn best and differently. Belenky is most concerned with how women can effect change in their own lives. Their premise here is that by emphasizing one's personal change, a gradual impact results in societal changes.
 
 

Feminist research suggests that there are five main stages of intellectual development. The five areas outlines below provide important inisght for how we understand and facilitate learning in women as compared to men. Silence and the inner voices of women tend to be much more introspective than men. How knolwedge is received, the circumstances under which it is received can vary the meaning that is constructed. The essence of this development results in constructing one's metacognitive processes (how one learns and knows how one learns). This requires knowledhge to be personalized, with procedures to enlighten one's understanding so that propoer actions can be taken. These five areas are outlined below.
 
 

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