Funneling toward Authenticity: A Response to “Intimacy and Ethical Behavior in Adult Education”

In his article, “Intimacy and Ethical Action in Adult Education,” Donovan Plumb (2009) suggests a pathway for adult educators to achieve the type of world that Gunter (1996) envisions. Plumb argues that the personal qualities that enable us to have fulfilling (sexually) intimate relationships are also those that enable ethical action on the part of adult educators. On the one hand, his choice of strategy (sexual intimacy) for creating a more honoring, accepting, equitable, and loving learning experience is intriguing because it shocks readers (presumably mostly other adult educators, such as myself) out of our comfort zones of what is considered “acceptable” to discuss as educators of adults and as members of organizations. Yet, on the other hand, Plumb (implicitly) reinforces some of the very social constructions he seeks to throw off. In this response, I will explore these two aspects of Plumb’s work and suggest an alternative framing of intimacy and ethical action for adult educators.