Theme 2: Action Orientation

Facilitating Smart-Girl: Feminist Pedagogy in Service Learning in Action

by Rhonda L. Williams and Abby L. Ferber

Introduction

Although feminist theories and practices are wide-ranging and diverse, feminist pedagogies share a commitment to creating change to improve women's lives. As feminist faculty members, part of our goal in teaching is to empower our students to work for change (Luke and Gore 19). We teach not only to educate our students, but also to enable them to use this knowledge to work for social justice. In many courses, students learn about social problems, institutional inequality, and barriers facing women; this subject matter, however, frequently leaves students feeling depressed and defeated. Too often, students leave class not knowing how to apply their newfound insights. Knowledge gained in the university classroom is often disconnected from action and from the practices of women working for change in the community. Finding ways to connect students to the process of change is an ongoing struggle for many educators. Opportunities for internships or community service/learning are increasingly employed in feminist classrooms, so that students can connect what they are learning and theorizing to the world beyond the classroom.