When Debbie and Nikki interviewed the second group of course leaders during their training, the group included only one woman out of seven participants. Again, this was due to the male-dominated workplaces involved. This woman also had difficulty becoming involved because of family responsibilities. She was ridiculed by some co-workers because they could not understand how she could leave her child to attend the training sessions.

The reaction from the male participants varied when they were asked how WEST programs could be made more accessible to women. They agreed that women have more responsibilities in child rearing and housework, but had no suggestions for improvement. They agreed that it could be easier for men to be involved as an instructor in such a program because of the extensive time commitment. They also discussed how men in the workplace could encourage women to attend classes. The question " What about the men?" came up, even though it was obvious that the discussion was planned to focus on women.

The next stage of Nikki and Debbie's research was interrupted when Saskatchewan Education initially denied long-term funding to the program. The funding for the WEST program coordinator at the SFL was essential to maintain the existing level of programming. Financial cutbacks imposed on various unionized workplaces in Saskatchewan had also directly affected long-term commitments to the WEST program. It became apparent that the issue of literacy is not taken seriously enough. Also, changes in Debbie and Nikki's personal lives and the distance in miles between them made it difficult at times to stay focused on the research.

What was produced

Once continued funding was achieved, Debbie and Nikki decided to create a poster for use in the training program, in union offices and in the program classrooms. This poster is headed: "Union-based literacy programs can empower women workers if they pay attention to women's lives." It includes a variety of questions that indicate women's concerns. Debbie wrote a reflection about her personal growth and development through the research," Taking chances/Making choices: Reflections on a year of woman-positive activity." Nicole used her two interviews to develop a similar reflection, "Gaining confidence through woman- positive literacy research." The two articles and the poster are included in Women in literacy-speak.

" We did some writing that helped our children understand that what we do at school also includes our families.