Women Face 'Third Shift' Online

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Pete, Sep 17, 2001.

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  1. Pete

    Pete New Member

  2. Guest

    Guest Guest

    In one word -- baloney [​IMG] Anyone who suffers from "third shift" syndrome brings it upon themselves by the simple fact that they allow it to happen.
     
  3. ahchem

    ahchem New Member

    I tend to agree. I found the following quote especially ill-informed.

    While the first part may be technically accurate. The later is not. In my experience women ALMOST ALWAYS outnumber men in numbers of students attending any form of higher education that I have been involved in.

    In the four colleges that I have attended: community college, BA from a Liberal Arts College, MA from a state university, and Teaching credential from a private college, it was only the MA in History where there was roughly a parity in the numbers of men and women in the program. The other three programs had many more women than men by far.

    With that said I would like to make the point that if College administrators are not paying attention to the needs of their female students (who are >50%) they do so at their peril!

    Jeff who tends to be greatly outnumbered by his female counterparts both in classes and as a teacher himself at a school with WAY MORE female than male teachers.
     
  4. Mary A

    Mary A Member

    I thought you might enjoy reading this rebuttal written by Kary Ledbetter, ISIM Faculty (and mother of 9).

    Mary Adams
    President, ISIM

    To the Editor:

    Many of the points you made in your article "Distance Education is Harder on Women Than on Men" are superficially true. However, these points do not give an accurate and enlightened insight into the value of distance education for women.

    I am the mother of nine children. I currently hold one Master's Degree and am almost finished with the second, a distance degree from ISIM University. I work as an educational consultant and writer. I have been teaching graduate level certificate courses for ISIM for the past 13 years using distance education. I also teach high school for Christa McAuliffe Academy, an accredited K-12 distance education school. I would say that I meet your profile of a "third shift" worker.

    The traditional role of women as mothers and homemakers has been
    complicated by economic demands that require most women to also work outside of their homes to supplement the family income. It is also historically true that women earn less for doing the same work as men in the same environment. In order to elevate our status in the workforce, many of us have had to seek higher education as a means of obtaining the skills, techniques, and credentials that we need to be competitive. Our children, husbands, and homes haven't put themselves in cold storage while we struggled to meet these demands on our time and energy. Despite these demands, many of us still have brains that also need nurturing.

    My role as a mother and professional would demand, under any circumstances, that I work a third shift if I also desired an education. The freedom to work this shift when I have the time in my busy schedule allows me to continue my education without having to give up on other areas of my life. Most mothers make this type of choice routinely as we struggle with the demands of contributing to the family income and maintaining our homes and parenting children. The third shift is one we willingly choose to work to advance ourselves.

    It is also true that technology has a price. In many cases that price has already been paid. A high number of homes, especially those that include persons who are attending high school and college, already have computers and online services. To equate this with the cost of distance learning alone is giving an inaccurate view of the typical American home in the age of information technology. We have the ability and tools already, and the cost is going down daily, and now we also have the opportunity to use them for education and professional development as well as for game-playing.

    I feel that the reason that women are availing themselves of the
    opportunity to get degrees via distance education is simply that they now can do what they have always wanted to do and have previously been denied by circumstance. Women have traditionally been the primary caretakers of the children and home. That role prevented many from attending day classes on a college campus. Now we can participate in the intellectual stimulation of a college environment, interact with others, research, network, and open
    new opportunities for ourselves. We can do this without having to balance the guilt of raising latchkey children and serving fast-food every night so we can go to school. The tradeoff, in my mind, is clearly weighted toward the distance environment.

    There are also many benefits to being a distance learner. We are no longer limited to associations with those who live next door but may participate in classes with people from varied and diverse backgrounds around the globe. What a blessing for the homebound mother or the woman who works and parents leaving scant time for other activities. How enriching and stimulating that time with others in a distance class can be!

    Time doesn't limit our participation in enlightening and stimulating
    activities. I can study and interact using a variety of media and
    techniques whenever my demanding schedule allows. I don't have to choose between a child's recital and my class work. I am free to learn when I can as well as where I can.

    As distance education moves toward being an accepted academic route, the institutions and mechanisms that provide subsidies and loans will also begin to fund this avenue toward higher learning. Business entities already recognize the value of the worker staying in the work environment while he/she learns during the third shift. Large companies like Boeing, Getronics, and MCI are currently supporting distance learning programs because they, like families, enjoy the benefits of increased worker knowledge while not having
    to sacrifice the worker's presence at work.

    Am I willing to work the third shift, most definitely. Do I feel that it
    costs too much in time, energy, or money to use distance education as my primary means of self-advancement - No! In fact, as soon as I complete my final paper for my MS from ISIM I'm going to be starting a doctoral program. I'll do this from the comfort of my home, while juggling my work, and loving and providing for my kids. I'll do it because I can and it benefits me and my family in the long run.

    Karen L. Ledbetter, BA, MAT, CM, CRM, NS
    Faculty, ISIM University
     

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