Social representations of illiteracy shared by illiterate young and adults / RepresentaÃÃes sociais do analfabetismo na perspectiva de jovens e adultos nÃo-alfabetizados

AUTOR(ES)

PatrÃcia Teixeira de Almeida

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2004

RESUMO

Illiteracy is a multifaceted phenomenon that is related to the historical characteristics of Brazilian social structure, which separates and excludes classes of people and has denied the right to literacy to certain groups. Nevertheless, Brazilian society has not yet recognized its responsibility in this matter, for it tends to blame illiterate people themselves for the problem and consider illiteracy to be a social disease. This research was motivated by the desire to investigate whether illiterate people reproduce this ideology. By means of individual and group interviews, the study attempted at identifying social representations of illiteracy, as experienced and shared by illiterate young adults and adults living in the Vila Estrutural, Distrito Federal, and the reasons for seeking literacy. Results have been discussed based mainly on social representations theory and on the thinking of Freire and Ferreiro about literacy. Participants discourse revealed that the social representations of this group are not simple ideological reproductions by passive subjects. Actually, group members have their own opinions about illiteracy. Amongst the motives for acquiring literacy, survival and better life quality achieved by job access were highlighted. In addition, being literate also meant more personal autonomy, better self-esteem and the desire to be accepted by the group to which they belong. Although participants presented negative images of illiterate people, who are stigmatized by illiteracy, poverty and unemployment, they expressed a belief in the possibility of a better life. Some implications of this study for the planning of political-pedagogical literacy activities are pointed out. Also important is the development of strategies to replace the placing of the social responsibility for illiteracy on illiterate people themselves.

ASSUNTO(S)

alfabetizaÃÃo educacao de adultos social representations illiteracy representaÃÃes sociais processos de aprendizagem education of adults analfabetismo learning processes educaÃÃo de jovens e adultos literacy

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