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Learning for Cambodian Women: Exploration Through Narrative Identity and Imagination Alvina Marie Sheeley [email protected]

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Learning for Cambodian Women: Exploration Through Narrative Identity and Imagination Alvina Marie Sheeley Asheeley@Hotmail.Com The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Doctoral Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects 2012 Learning for Cambodian Women: Exploration through Narrative Identity and Imagination Alvina Marie Sheeley [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/diss Recommended Citation Sheeley, Alvina Marie, "Learning for Cambodian Women: Exploration through Narrative Identity and Imagination" (2012). Doctoral Dissertations. 42. https://repository.usfca.edu/diss/42 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The University of San Francisco LEARNING FOR CAMBODIAN WOMEN: EXPLORATION THROUGH NARRATIVE IDENTITY AND IMAGINATION A Dissertation Presented To The Faculty of School of Education Department of Leadership Studies Organization and Leadership Program In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree Doctor of Education By Alvina Sheeley San Francisco, California December 2012 THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO Dissertation Abstract Learning for Cambodian Women: Exploration through Narrative Identity and Imagination Research Topic This study explains different ways of thinking about education that may improve the quality of life for women in Cambodia. The present inquiry portrays the personal histories, narratives and hopes of selected women to uncover possible ways in which government and non-government agencies may transform the lives of Cambodian women through education programs. Theory and Protocol This research is grounded in critical hermeneutic theory formulated by Paul Ricoeur (1992) and follows an interpretive approach to field research and data analysis (Herda 1999). This orientation places the researcher and participants in a collaborative relationship that exemplifies the power of conversation and the importance of language to unveil new understandings about our world. Research Categories Two categories served as the boundaries for both data collection and analysis: Narrative Identity, understood from a critical hermeneutic orientation, reveals the process wherein a person reconfigures the story on the basis of who he or she is and it is through the recounting and retelling that one’s identity can change; and Mimeses may happen when history is reinterpreted providing a basis for understanding the current situation, and in turn, lead to imagining a possible future that could become a reality through appropriate action in the area of adult learning. ii Findings The participants, who live in the rural villages now or have lived there, posit that the Cambodian government lacks solicitude for their education because they are currently the poor inhabitants and farmers of the country. To re-imagine their future life through an education program, changes must occur within themselves as well as with government policies. The following findings were derived from the conversations with participants: (1) women play a minor role in the current economic development (2) there is an absence of literacy curriculum with trained and skilled educators (3) authentic communications are closed. If these concerns were addressed, there could be an improvement in the lives of some of the women in Cambodia. iii This dissertation, written under the direction of the candidate’s dissertation committee and approved by the members of the committee, has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the School of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education. The content and research methodologies presented in this work represent the work of the candidate alone. Alvina Sheeley 11-15-12 Candidate Date Dissertation Committee Dr. Ellen A. Herda 11-15-12 Chairperson Date Dr. Patricia Mitchell 11-15-12 Date Dr. Betty Taylor 11-15-12 Date Dr. Paul Raccanello 11-15-12 Date iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research study is the culmination of a great professional and personal endeavor, and I wish to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to all of those people who guided and supported me in this journey. Foremost, I extend my great appreciation to the faculty and staff in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco for their tireless effort and commitment to their students and to higher education in general. They all are wonderful educators and I have learned much from this experience. I wish to thank the members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Ellen Herda, Dr. Patricia Mitchell, Dr. Betty Taylor and Dr. Paul Raccanello for their support and for allowing me to pursue research of significant interest to me. I respect and esteem Dr. Patricia Mitchell as she provided lessons on leadership and management with warmth and sensitivity. I especially acknowledge Dr. Ellen Herda for her insight into the world of other cultures and her valuable help in preparing me for this research project. In addition, I am indebted to Dr. Ellen Herda for opening up the world of critical hermeneutic inquiry. She was my advisor, mentor, instructor and friend at times. I thank her for her patience, guidance, and support over the past many years; I will forever cherish the opportunities I had to travel abroad and gain new interpretations of the world. My expanded knowledge may create more conversations filled with new understandings wherever I may be. I thank the rural women who opened up themselves to share their history, expectations, and the passing of their arrows from the past to the future. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their lives and the life-world of rural village and suburban women. My understanding and interpretation of the material that they have provided for v this research project may enrich the text beyond my expectations. I am indebted to Siey Sith Peisey who translated my English to Khmer and the participants’ Khmer to English. I thank all of my peers at the University of San Francisco for their unremitting support and encouragement. I have enjoyed our time together and I wish them much happiness and great success as they continue the work that inspires them. I thank Alicia Wood who started me on this great adventure and educational journey many decades ago. In addition, I thank my friends who encouraged me throughout my years to complete my education. I thank my brother Alvin who invited me to rest (and work) at his “El Rancho Grande” during the summer breaks and his encouraging words, sense of humor and laughter, and cruises along the Mississippi River. In addition, I thank my niece and goddaughter, Pamela, for sharing part of the summer time breaks from education. I enjoyed our leisure drives through the Illinois countryside where I could behold the beautiful quilted patchwork fields of grain. I thank two of my elderly sisters, Marlene, and Catherine, who allowed me to participate in solicitude with them during their confinement to nursing homes. Both of them always believed, like my mother, that I would “make something of myself.” My experiences with them were being-in-the-world together in the sense of taking care of them. I thank all of my brothers and sisters for their love and support throughout our lives. To my son, Kirk Sheeley, I leave this dissertation that reveals wisdom from well- known philosophers. May he hold true to the belief that he may inhabit his proposed life- world. This dissertation is written but continues to be open to explore further horizons. vi To the memory of my parents William Darrell and Emma Alvina Riley Who lived their lives with solicitude for Others vii TABLE of CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..............................................................................................v CHAPTER ONE: STATEMENT OF ISSUE ..................................................................1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................1 Background of the issue ..................................................................................................3 Significance of the issue .................................................................................................7 Summary .........................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER TWO: INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNTRY BACKGROUND .........9 Introduction .....................................................................................................................9 Geographical Location and Brief History .......................................................................9 Early History .................................................................................................................10 Current Social Situation ................................................................................................12 Political Background .....................................................................................................13 Current Politics .............................................................................................................15 Economic Background ..................................................................................................17
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