Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation in …

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2. Race, class , gender , and Sexual Orientation in Adult Literacy: Power, Pedagogy, and Programs Deborah D'Amico In an address to members of the national organization of adult learners, Voice for Adult Literacy United for Education (VALUE), Dr. Thomas G. Sticht stated a truism: The Adult Education and Literacy System serves the powerless. Although estimates of the number of adults with low liter- acy in the United States vary, no one denies that these adults are primarily the working poor and public assistance recipients, and they are dispropor- tionately represented by people of color and immigrants. Moreover, the majority of adults enrolled in literacy programs are women. Thus, adult basic education (ABE) serves primarily those individuals likely to have had restricted access to opportunity and power, not only because of their socioeconomic class but also because of the dynamics of racism and sex- ism in our society.

2 Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation in Adult Literacy: Power, Pedagogy, and Programs Deborah D’Amico In an address …

  Sexual, Class, Gender, Orientation, And sexual orientation in