This text examines the forces that keep educators and students from feeling fully empowered, that is, gaining the power to self-actualize and to facilitate this process for others. A feminist perspective is used to consider directions for educational reform and innovation broadly under an umbrella philosophy of empowerment, suggesting a paradigm…

Issues involved in teaching, as contrasted with organizing, women's studies are discussed, including innovative approaches and the use of individual work, group work, and self-directed learning. It is argued that since the objective is to empower students, the need to include black women and black feminists is central. Future directions for…

States that in order to provide an empowering and liberating education for students, especially for young women, it is essential that the history curriculum describe, understand, and value women's contributions. Provides examples of two diaries that can be used in history classes to teach about young women from the past. (LS)