Firstly I must comment the previous email I wrote was one of the
very few times I have actually contributed to outres and now I have I
have the risk of being assumed I am forcing an agenda ... I reflect
upon that and consider why I have remained as one of the silent
lurkers during recent times and what psychological risks it
take for me to continue this discussion as I try and raise issue
based aspects of our work.
I hear the assumption that the instructor should beable to create a
space of empathy. I also would hope the outdoor adventure space to
diminish these stereotypes which seem prevalent in wider society and
great you previous experiences , pete , have achieved the braking
down of these stereotypes. I fail to recognise, however, how skills
are actually developed in training to esnure this process happens
and does not happen just by default. How many courses In outdoor
education do you see where Anti-discriminatory practice is integral
part of training as an outdoor educator. Perhaps using therapy to
illustrate the point. Counselors/therapist are extensively trained in
the skill of empathy yet the issues of dealing with equity issues is
still recognized in training. Therapist and training agencies have
recognised the real need to address these issues and have in the past
year put anti-discriminatory practice as a core competent of training
and not as an add on. This says something about of the need to
address these as you would expect perhaps counselors in the extensive
training in skills, such as being non-judgemental to be people
competent in addressing equity issues thus not requiring such
training.
By saying these issues do not exists I would argue it is naive in
the approach we take. Furthermore we need to recognise that people
who participate in outdoor adventure courses whether, these be in
recreation, educational, developmental or therapeutic context do not
forget their experiences of oppression as they walk into the outdoor
adventure environment. So for example women possibly stilll
adapting themselves to men in groups ??? I also raise the question
who is deciding what the outcomes of such programming may be...
surely there is inclusion and exclusion issues there and what would
anti-discriminatory ethics lool like in developing outdoor adventure
aims and objectives. For example only this week we see the
Government summit on body image in the media and the real need to
adddress womne's negative body image and not just by addressing
the media role... now surely negative body could be an important aim
for outdoor adventure for young women.... yet how many aims do we see
stated that actively address negative body image. So this suggest to
me a possible exclusion of real issues which have a gender focus .
Furthermore do we not recognise the ways in which outdoor adventure
could be aimed at empowering people to take social action ?? Perhaps
ref to social action therapy would be a useful link there.
Last week I attended a conf on community psychology, equity and
sustainability ... I had to step outside the outdoor adventure world
to access the debates which I think are fundamental for the
development of our field. Interestingly I heard a keynote which
refered to a project which was working with ethnic minorities in using
horse-riding in the countryside... and raised the issues of how
ethnic minority groups may have greater restrictions to the use of
the countryside as a result of the circumstance in their lives and
what proccesses are required to address the sustainiability fo their
particpation. ... which is a political and social agenda. It is how we
approach our work to ensure these issues are addressed that is
fundamental in addressing equity issues.. and yes i do think outdoor
adventure can provide an important link to these areas.
I would hope that the outdoor adventure space would diminish these
steretypes and I think it is is an agenda which needs taking
seriously rather than assuming it happens by simply having such
experiences. It alerts me again to the assumption that
self-estem raises as a result of experiencing outdoor
adventure ... by understanding the equity issues then we could
perhaps achieve the rises in self-esteem which i think we at times
naively justify our provisions on. Group processes are complex
processes and perhaps one could argue they become even more complex
when placed in an outdoor setting.. as for example the power dynamics
of relationships take a different form. . Also I wonder why very
little evidence backs up my comments.. probably because limited
research has been done on this .. and I wonder why that is so ...
perhaps the issue of gatekeepers to knowledge to research arises
again here.
Finally, for me these issues are fundamental if we consider the
transfer of learning.... so great we have the outdoor adventure
experience which might be suggested doesn't't have a socail and politcal
agenda (which I actually disagree with ) but then people return back
to their environments where it does... surely then these issues of
equity are fundamental to us if we consider transfer of learning a
fundamental component of our practice ????
In conclusion , I would feel concerned if you feel I was forcing an
agenda which seems to have the overall goal of celebrating diversity.
I recognise issue based work comes with it difficulties and have no
intention of crating an agenda for the mere sake of it. Perhaps
it requires us to force agenda's, if that is what it is going to take
to but important issues on the agenda. Not something I like doing
because it becomes tiring !!
We need to ensure outdoor adventure is for all and create a safe
place for this to exist .... in addressing this I would hope the
researchers , whom in many ways become the gatekeepers to knowledge
and practice , do not discredit an area which would serve to enable
us to ensure outdoor adventure is for all ... both physically and
psychologically.
regards
kaye
Kaye Richards
Liverpool John Moores University
School of Education, Community and Social Sciences
I.M.Marsh Campus
Barkhill Road
Aigburth
Liverpool
England. L17 6BD
Tel: 0151 231 5239
EMail: [log in to unmask]
Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership Editorial Issues:
[log in to unmask]
www.adventure-ed.co.uk
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