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Why we are the "other women" This book recognizes a reality, our reality, that of the "other women". Why are we the "other women"? Because we are women who, given the fact that we have not had the chance to obtain an academic education, were silenced and have remained outside of the spaces for public debate about women. This exclusion is worse if we are immigrants or belong to an ethnic minority. Those of us who are housewives, domestic workers or factory workers, because we do not have academic degrees, do not have spaces in which our voices can be heard, where we can say what we want. At times women whose voices are heard, because they have been able to go to university or have been leaders in the feminist movement, speak for all of the other women who have not been able to get a formal education, without asking us what it is we really want or think. Through our participation in educational and cultural centers and associations, many of us have formed associations and women's groups. In this way, we are creating spaces where we can discuss issues that we are concerned about: solidarity among women, demands for better widows' pensions, exploitation of domestic workers, etc. And we are organizing ourselves to get our voices, demands and opinions about these issues out there into the public debate.
List of contents
From Imposition to Negotiation and Consensus.- From Academic Feminism (of the élite) to Universal Feminism (for All).- We are Women for Transformation, We are not Women for Accommodation.- Creation of Meaning Through Lifelong Learning.- From Competition to Complexity: Solidarity.- The Equal Right to be Different.
Summary
Why we are the “other women” This book recognizes a reality, our reality, that of the “other women”. Why are we the “other women”? Because we are women who, given the fact that we have not had the chance to obtain an academic education, were silenced and have remained outside of the spaces for public debate about women. This exclusion is worse if we are immigrants or belong to an ethnic minority. Those of us who are housewives, domestic workers or factory workers, because we do not have academic degrees, do not have spaces in which our voices can be heard, where we can say what we want. At times women whose voices are heard, because they have been able to go to university or have been leaders in the feminist movement, speak for all of the other women who have not been able to get a formal education, without asking us what it is we really want or think. Through our participation in educational and cultural centers and associations, many of us have formed associations and women’s groups. In this way, we are creating spaces where we can discuss issues that we are concerned about: solidarity among women, demands for better widows’ pensions, exploitation of domestic workers, etc. And we are organizing ourselves to get our voices, demands and opinions about these issues out there into the public debate.
Additional text
"This is an inspirational, uplifting and important book. It is welcoming to read a book which is rooted in the everyday lives, struggles and stories of ‘other women’ in contrast to postmodernism or abstract theory which has dominated feminism in recent years. The book makes a significant contribution to feminism through its re-establishment, centrally, of the voices of ‘other women’. The authors also make a valuable development to the field of adult education, social inclusion and lifelong learning by illustrating the powerful role of learning through dialogue in promoting learning for social purpose, in transforming lives and active citizenship. We all have a lot to learn from the women in this book."
(Barbara Merrill, University of Warwick, UK)
"This book discusses the contributions that non-academic women, like myself, make to women’s debate. Those of us who are learning to read and write are actually making changes in our lives and in the people around us. I celebrate a book like this one, which speaks of a feminism that includes our voices. I believe dialogue is a treasure today and feminism must defend that all voices can be heard."
(Emilia Clavería, Drom Kotar Mestipen Romaní Women’s Association, Barcelona, Spain)
Report
"This is an inspirational, uplifting and important book. It is welcoming to read a book which is rooted in the everyday lives, struggles and stories of 'other women' in contrast to postmodernism or abstract theory which has dominated feminism in recent years. The book makes a significant contribution to feminism through its re-establishment, centrally, of the voices of 'other women'. The authors also make a valuable development to the field of adult education, social inclusion and lifelong learning by illustrating the powerful role of learning through dialogue in promoting learning for social purpose, in transforming lives and active citizenship. We all have a lot to learn from the women in this book."
(Barbara Merrill, University of Warwick, UK)
"This book discusses the contributions that non-academic women, like myself, make to women's debate. Those of us who are learning to read and write are actually making changes in our lives and in the people around us. I celebrate a book like this one, which speaks of a feminism that includes our voices. I believe dialogue is a treasure today and feminism must defend that all voices can be heard."
(Emilia Clavería, Drom Kotar Mestipen Romaní Women's Association, Barcelona, Spain)
