To the S-L List,
Bob Seidel raises an interesting inquiry about the ratio of women to men
students in S-L programs. A strong analogy to this is with study abroad
programs, where for decades the ratio of women to men has been about 70 to
30. This is also true, with occasional exceptions, of our own international
service-learning programs. The issue seems to have less to do with service
than with off-campus experiences. In study abroad circles this situation is
well-known, but I do not know of any solid research into it. One of my own
opinions, not entirely facetious, is that young women are more ventursome and
risk-taking than young men, who often are more occupied with other matters or
with career directions. It also suggests that those in service-learning
could fruitfully be more aware of other forms of educational experiences so
as to bridge the tendency to think that service-learning is unconnected to
issues of education and development generally.
Howard A. Berry
The International Partnership for Service-Learning