Freirean Praxis and Feminist Intersectionality: A Dialogue for Transformative Democracy

• In Event: Freire's Radical Utopia: Denouncing the Historical Moment and Announcing Solidarity and Activism in Academia

Abstract

This paper argues that the most vital partner for this reinvention is critical feminism, particularly the framework of intersectionality. By placing Freire’s pedagogy in a direct and critical dialogue with feminist thought, we can forge a more robust, inclusive, and potent praxis for social transformation. This synthesized framework allows us to deconstruct the subtle and overt ways oppression functions on a global scale—from the neocolonial dynamics of so-called “Pygmalion Democracies” to the pervasive epidemic of gender-based violence. Ultimately, this paper seeks to move beyond critique to propose a renewed vision for a transformative democracy, one built not on the paternalistic "banking model" of aid, but on a foundation of genuine, dialogical, and intersectional solidarity.

Author

• Sheila L. Macrine, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth