Table 4-7:
Distribution of Students within ABE Programs by Age and Sex |
| |
| |
Age of Students |
Distribution
of
Female Students
(85 programs) |
Distribution
of
Male Students
(78 programs) |
|
| |
|
1 -19 years |
----- |
1.3% |
| |
20 - 24 years |
29.4% |
37.1 % |
| |
25 - 30 years |
32.9% |
34.6% |
| |
31 - 40 years |
32.9% |
21.8% |
| |
41 years + |
4.7% |
5.1% |
|
4.3.3. Occupations of
Students in ABE Programs
Multiple responses (174) were given to the question about the
occupations of students in ABE programs. Unemployed status among students was
prominent with more men unemployed than women. The major occupations of women
students were identified as homemaker and service worker (see Table 4-8).
Table 4-8: Distribution of Students in ABE Programs by
Occupation and Sex as reported by Providers |
|
| |
| |
Occupation |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
| |
| |
Clerical |
5.3% |
1.2% |
3.4% |
| |
Service |
11.8% |
8.6% |
10.3% |
| |
Homemaker |
42.0% |
----- |
22.4% |
| |
Factory Worker |
2.1% |
16.0% |
8.6% |
| |
Labourer |
1.0% |
20.9% |
10.3% |
| |
Farming |
---- |
1.2% |
0.6% |
| |
Fishing |
---- |
1.2% |
0.6% |
| |
Unemployed |
37.6% |
50.6% |
43.7% |
|
The fact that 80 percent of the responses about women's
occupational status described women as not employed in the labour market
(homemakers and unemployed students) suggests that the majority of women in ABE
programs tend to be economically dependent upon government payments and /or the
men in their lives. Both sources of support represent the patriarchal aspects
of our society. If psychological dependence is a corollary of economic
dependence (Cole Jr., 1975), then it is very probable that women in ABE
programs have two distinct needs. First, they need to acquire skills for paid
employment. Second, they need to become self-confident, to learn assertiveness,
to become self-reliant, and to become their own persons. Related to their need
for economic and psychological independence is the need to become aware of the
variety of roles and opportunities for women in society, and of their right to
these. |