To all

Before I respond I note the fantazy I have when I write GENDER in the 
subject title.... I fanatzize that your reactions will be 'oh no not 
the gender debate again and press delete !!!!!.... I don't 
necessarily believe you will actually do this but I thought an 
interesting insight into the projections I have in discussing these 
issues !!

 
Pete in response to your comment .... yes I agree with :
 > If we recognise that personal growth can occur through adventure 
we have to ask what is it that a person would most benefit from in 
terms of their personal growth?  Facilitation is then about 
optimizing the opportunity for this. 


So part of optimizing this opportunity is ensuring we have examined 
in depth developmental processes  and all the barriers to the 
opportunities we propose in re. to developmental processes available 
in an outdoor adventure setting . Furthermore we need to ask how we 
understand the sense of self and its development. This requires us 
then to examine both women's and men's development and this in 
consequence can not allow us to escape the gender debate.

I comment on this because I think there is a wealth of literature 
which examines such issues and we need to locate this more fully 
within our frameworks of understanding the process of personal 
development in an outdoor adventure setting.

Furthermore . if we consider a highly gendered female self and that 
this incorporates some , "attributes related to low self esteem , 
ineffectiveness and lack of control, which creates negative outcomes 
that will not serve  girls well in future situations" ( Worrel & Todd 
, 1996) then in order to address these issues  as you suggest Pete, in
re. to what individuals may benefit from most , then surely we need to
understand the psychology and sociocultural dimensions of these 
gendered attributes to ensure the benefits we hope for are 
optimised... allowing us to really access the full potential of the 
outdoor adventure experience.

FINALLY: WELL TIMED : I am attending a BMC equity seminar tomorrow , 
with the issue of gender being central to this ..... (for those who 
not familiar with BMC: British Mountaineering Council) So anticipate 
a feedback on the debates and issues raised to keep this gender 
debate going !


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:
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www.adventure-ed.co.uk




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