Open AccessWomen Learners’ Narratives in an Open and Distance Learning System: A Critical Evaluation from a Feminist Perspective
Author(s) -
Dilek Şenocak
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
yükseköðretim ve bilim dergisi/yükseköğretim ve bilim dergisi
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2146-5967
pISSN - 2146-5959
DOI - 10.5961/jhes.2021.429
Subject(s) - narrative , perspective (graphical) , inequality , sociology , social justice , distance education , transformational leadership , pedagogy , qualitative research , gender studies , psychology , social psychology , social science , computer science , mathematical analysis , philosophy , linguistics , mathematics , artificial intelligence
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is an educational tool with a transformational social role in eliminating gender inequality as well as educational inequalities. In line with this idea, the aim of this study is to examine the opportunities offered by an ODL system to female learners and its contributions in closing the gap arising from gender inequality in education through the lens of feminist pedagogy. To this end, a qualitative research paradigm was adopted, and a narrative research design was conducted to analyze the stories of women in an ODL system. The findings of the study reveal that women in the study still encounter some barriers and constraints on access to education and school completion because they are women. ODL, with its flexible and autonomous learning environment, is thought to play a key role for the women in the study to cling to hope and to ensure social justice in the society