Two decades of feminist thought - and beyond

This paper reflects on feminist achievements in adult education during the last twenty years. The 1980s was a crucial period, putting gender on the agenda. Research on women and post-school education was initiated, women's studies were established and the prevalence of structural discrimination was recognised. Some comparisons with the development of anti-racist education are made. In the 1990s feminists increasingly recognised women's 'ways of knowing' (as process and product) and the curricular implications of this. Again a comparison is made with anti-racist curriculum development. Finally, it is argued that both minority ethnic groups and women have developed 'cultures of resistance' which influence their construction of knowledge and seven characteristics associated with such ways of knowing are identified.