The Writingworld: Power Dynamics in Language, Literacies, and Pedagogies Across Contexts

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This symposium draws on Bourdieu’s field theory, to examine the dynamics of the Writingworld as an institutional theory of writing which explains how minoritized populations’ literacy practices are governed and controlled by gatekeepers (such as institutions, associations, professions, assessors, teachers, and publishers) typically from the dominant racial and linguistic populations. With an explanation of the Writingworld theoretical framework as its starting point, the symposium later showcases empirical studies which serve to illustrate the challenges that marginalized and minoritized populations encounter while they try to navigate the doxa of the Writingworld in a variety of contexts. 

Sub Unit

• SIG-Bourdieu in Educational Research

Chair

• Amir Kalan, McGill University

Papers

• The Writingworld: Hegemonic Writing Doxa vs. Organic Literacies - Amir Kalan, McGill University

• Language, Music and Power: The cases of three translingual singer-songwriters and women of Tio’tia:ke / Montreal - Bianca Gonzalez, McGill University

• The Agentive Writing Practices of Refugee Writers in an ESL Classroom - Renee G. Davy, McGill University

• Whose culture exactly? Challenging the notion of “target language culture” in ESL/EFL writing classrooms - Cris Delatado Barabas, McGill University