Women's studies : a general essay and a national survey : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masterate of Education at Massey University

Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for

a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and

private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without

the permission of the Author.

A NATIONAL SURVEY

A Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the Masterate of Education at Massey University.

Mary

A.

Hancock B.Ed. Hons.

1979

i i

ABSTRACT

The survey provides an analysis of Women's Studies courses for adults in New Zealand 19 77 - 197 8. Two postal questionnaires were utilized to compile data on the courses, organisers and participants.

The preliminary questionnaire (an information sheet) established the location of a wide number of courses, and the name and address of each course organiser.

The main que:,l i.on11;1ire, adrnin i_stercd to the course org;.rnisers, :1scertained specific data concerning the nature of Women's Studies courses, organisers and participants. From this data an overview was gained of the forty six diverse Women's Studies Courses for adults offered in New Zealand during the period 1977 - 1978. This represents all the major courses taught in New Zealand at this time. The forty six courses are offered by thirty five differ2nt organisations.

A large proportion of these groups are government bodies.

Voluntary groups pL1y only a sm.:111 role .in the provision of: courses.

The majority of courses are informal, non-vocational courses, with only a small ;noportion of courses being of a formal nature (part of qualifications and/or a training programme).

Almost all of the courses are organised by women. In only two situations are men involved with women in course organisation and planning. A similar pattern emerged in course attendance where 91. 2;~

of the participants were women and 8.8% men.

There are considerable differences in the types of courses

attended by men 3nd women. A very high proportion of men attended the formal courses, whereas a large proportion of women attended informal, non-vocationally-oriented courses.

In the area of course development, over 80% of courses have emerged since 1975.

A large proportion of the courses were established through the independent initiative of female staff members . Factors such as organizational policy and 'needs' played only a very small role.

In a tentative examination of the purposes and content of Women's Studies courses as regards their orientation to social change, a

pattern emerged revealing that a high percentage of courses are based on an integration approach. Only a very small number of courses were

oriented toward transformation and these had a "reform" approach.

In the classroom situation several factors emerged.

Set reading material was found in very few courses, although 50%

of the courses had recommended reading of considerable variety. A large proportion of the courses utilized lectures, seminars and tutorials. A small proportion used alternative teaching and learning approaches such as workshops and group participation

program.mes. The average course length was 12.5 sessions with government courses longer than voluntary organisation courses.

TI1ere are many implications arising from the data, and where applicable they are discussed in this study, and related to the issues of the status and survival of Women's Studies in New Zealand.

Contents

List of Tables List of Figures

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTORY ESSAY: Knowledge and Control - A Feminist Perspective. Preface

Part One Part Two Part Three Conclusion Bibliography

BACKGROUND TO THE SURVEY METHOD

The Preliminary Information Sheet The Main Questionnaire

Implementation of the Postal Questionnaires

THE FINDINGS Number of Courses Course Types

Number of Organisations with Courses Organisational Bodies and Course Numbers Government and Voluntary Organisations Funding of Organisations

Formal and Informal Women's Studies Courses Course Organisers: Sex

Attendance at Women's Studies Courses Female Attendance Patterns

Hale Attendance Patterns

Female and Male Attendance Patterns Course Establishment

Course Origins

Course Aims and Objectives Pedagogy

iv

iv vii ix

X

X

xi

XX

xxiv xxvii xxviii

1 4 4 5 8

13 13 13 13 14

15 16 17 18 18 20 22 25 26 27 28 29

2 a.

b. J 4

5

6 7

8 9 10 11 12

a. b.

Course Reading Course. Length DIS CUSS ION Course Types

Organisational Bodies Course Funding

Formal and Informal Courses Course Organisers

Attendance

Impetus for Course Establishment Course Establishment

Course Origins

The Purpose of the Courses Pedagogy

Course Patterns Survival of Cours~s SU1'IMARY AND CONCLUSION

APPENDICES

Preliminary Survey:

Main Questionnaire:

Main Questionnaire

Information Sheet Introductory Letter

Pa5se 29

30 32 32 32 33 33 34 35 37 38 38

l.;Q

46 47 47

50

52 53 54

Preliminary Survey: Reminder 55

Main Questionnaire: Reminder 56

Main Questionnaire: Letter of Thanks to Respondents 57 Women's Studies Courses in New Zealand 1977-1978

Organisations with Women's Studies Courses

Government and Voluntary Organisations and Course Numbers

Source of Funds

Formal and Informal Women's Studies Courses Course Organisers by Sex

Attendance at Women's Studies Courses (by sex) Course Origins

58 60 62

64 66 68 70 73

13

15 16

17 18 19

Specificity of Course Aims and Objectives Pedagogy

Course Reading

Women's Studies Courses with Set Texts

Women's Studies Courses with Recommended Reading Course Length

Women's Studies Courses: Approach to Social Change

BIBLIOGRAPHY

vi

75 77 79

81 82

84

87 89

Tahle 1

2 3

f;

s

6

Org:1ni.sational Response to Prcliminaq, Posta] Informo.tion Sheet

Type of Re~,ponse to Preliminary Tnforrn.,tion Sheet Organisc. tional Response to M.:iin Qucs tionnai re

Reasons for Non Inclusion of Courses

Types and ?\umbers of \.Jo;:,en' s Studie!, Courses urganisatlone-d. Bodies ,md C1)ursc !\umbers

7 Govcrn;nent :md \'oluntary Organisations with Women's Studies

8

9 10

11 12

13 14

15 i.6 1 7

18 19

Courses

Government and Volun.tary Orgnnis;1tion Course Numbers Source of Course Funding

Government and Voluntary Funded Org~misations with Women's Studies Courses

Number of Organisations offering Formal or Informal Courses Number of Formal and Informal Courses

Sex of Course Organisers Course Attendance by Sex

Attendance at Government and Voluntary Organisation Courses Formal and Informal Courses: At ten dance

Government and Voluntary Organisation Courses: Female Attendance

Formal Courses: Female Attendance

Forrr,al and In fonnal Courses: Female Attendance 20 Government and Voluntary Organisation Courses: Male

21 22 23

2 i,

25 26

27 28

Attendance

Male Attendance at \fomen's Studies Courses Formal and In formal Courses: ~!ale Attendance

Government ar:d Voluntary Organis_ation Courses: Female and Hale Attendance

Formal and Informal Courses: Female and Male Attendance Year Course Established

Course Establishment since 1975 Course Originating Factors

Specificity of Course Aims and Objectives

8

9 9 11

13 14

15 15 16

16 17 17 18 18 19 19

20

21

22

22 23 24

25 25 26 26

27 28

'L'.lblc

29 30 31

"?

.) ·- 33 34

Specificity of Aims nnd Objectives ~nd Source of Funds Learning and Teaching Approi.lchcs

Courses •.,i t:h Rccorrm1cnckd Re;:-iding Women's Studies Courses: Length Organis<.1tional Bodies: Course Length Purposes of \·.'omen's St:ud1.<2s Courses

viii

28

29 29 30 31 43

l 2

LIST OF FIGURES

Continuum of Attitudes to Social Change

A Conceptual Framework for Analysing Attitudes in Education to Social Change.

41 43