Critical literacy, as articulated by Vanessa Andreotti, transcends the conventional understanding of literacy by emphasizing the ability to read, interpret, and question the underlying power dynamics, ideologies, and social constructions within texts and discourses. It involves a deep engagement with context, fostering an awareness of how language shapes our perceptions of reality and influences cultural and political structures. Critical literacy empowers individuals not only to decode and comprehend textual information but also to recognize and challenge the ways in which knowledge and narratives are constructed and disseminated. This reflective practice encourages an ethical responsibility to act upon injustices identified within these textual landscapes, fostering transformative learning that seeks to create more equitable societies.

See also: citizenship education, power relation, global south, global north, human right