Dissertation writing help - experiences at becoming an outdoors-woman workshops

Custom Dissertation Writing Service - Women with physical disabilities: experiences at becoming an outdoors-woman workshops

Involvement by women in the typically male-oriented activities of hunting and fishing is fairly low. Women with physical disabilities make up an even smaller proportion of participants in these activities. The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program teaches outdoor skills relating to fishing and hunting to women across North America. Often, learning outdoor skills leads to personal growth as well. Few women with disabilities attend these workshops, but these women are a valuable resource-they inform us through the learning process they experience. What was their experience like? What was the impact of workshop attendance on their lives beyond the event?

This qualitative study examined experiences of six women with disabilities who attended BOW workshops. The study reflected how these particular women made meaning from the educational activities and workshop experience. They addressed common topics, including aspects of adult education, physical limitations, and social interactions.

Participants in this research attended the same Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops as women without disabilities and had experiences that are basically similar to those women. They learned skills, met new friends, gained self-confidence. However, having a physical disability did change their learning experiences overall. They expressed varying support from their personal infrastructures. Some were challenged and exhilarated by activities in which they participated. Several had difficulty with aspects of the workshops, and called the program to task.

These interviews serve as the basis for beginning to understand the ways women with disabilities view outdoor activities, learn these activities, and use what they learn in their lives. The results of this study should not be generalized to all women with physical limitations, nor further to all women who have attended Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops. But results do suggest areas for improvement for better inclusion of women with disabilities in adult outdoor skills education. Understanding how these particular women react to and use what they learned will enhance adult education, gender issues, leisure studies, and disability research. In addition, this research will inform persons or organizations that offer outdoor workshops or activities, and benefit many women in this underserved group.