One woman suggested that women are isolated for many reasons, but women often remain isolated because of fear, the fear of men's response to women seeking out the company of other women. Another said that overcoming that isolation is the only way to overcome the fear.

Another woman said that we must insist on the social nature of learning for women, including women who are staff. Several women talked about the importance of women workers forging links with other women - particularly those working in transition houses and anti-poverty movements.

• Devaluation

Women often talked about the lack of personal, political, and professional support for their work. One woman suggested this lack of support is evident not only in the attitudes and behaviour of funders and other agencies and organizations, but also in the way we treat ourselves. She suggested that, as workers, we need to recognize the importance of meeting our own needs.

The way I am, I always thought of the learners, I always wanted to put them first. But as time went on, it wasn't perfectly all right. Because if staff are not taken care of, how can staff do a good job with the learners? I feel - like there should be a balance there. (Cathy Short, Rabbittown Learners Program)

For some women, the connection between women's work as literacy instructors and women's work as caregivers in other spheres became more apparent. They identified "women's work" in classrooms or in community-based programs as similar to "women's work" as mothers, wives, nurses, social workers. They feel that, as women, they are often drawn into the social and emotional lives of their students in ways that men are not. One woman suggested that it is this unrecognized but essential work that leads to bum-out.

One woman talked about the "crisis fog" that contributes to a lack of vision for the future, another cause of burn-out. If we focus all our time on ever-present crises, there is no time left for visionary planning. Accepting that it is impossible to do more than deal with the present moment seems to be both a consequence and a cause of devalued work.

We're convinced that we don't have time, that our reflections aren't that important, and maybe our work isn't that valuable or doesn't have much impact on people. It's all the different layers of devaluing that come along with the crisis fog and stop us from thinking. (Anne Moore, Action Read)

When we began to talk about the kinds of resources that would indicate their work was no longer devalued, women mentioned full-time jobs in stable programs with basic health benefits; time and energy for professional development; enough space to work privately and with dignity; curriculum materials that represent women's different lives in realistic and respectful ways; women's safe, affordable access to childcare, transportation, housing.