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Literacy, Knowledge Production, and Grassroots Civil Society: Constructing Critical Responses to Neoliberal Dominance
Author(s) -
Mein Erika
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
anthropology and education quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1548-1492
pISSN - 0161-7761
DOI - 10.1111/j.1548-1492.2009.01056.x
Subject(s) - grassroots , sociology , situated , civil society , literacy , social movement , context (archaeology) , sociology of education , globalization , dominance (genetics) , neoliberalism (international relations) , gender studies , social science , political science , pedagogy , politics , law , gene , biology , paleontology , biochemistry , chemistry , artificial intelligence , computer science
Within the context of neoliberal globalization, portrayals of “literacy” and “knowledge” are increasingly emphasized for their instrumental value for individuals and markets. At the same time, locally situated movements have emerged to challenge, resist, and transform these representations. This article examines a grassroots movement in Mexico, the Feria Pedagógica (Pedagogical Fair), as one such site of contestation. Grounded in nonmainstream notions of “civil society,” this movement represents an alternative educational space where literacy practices are tied to the construction of counterhegemonic identities and epistemologies. [literacy, civil society, social movements, popular education, Mexico]