Herron 1

Jake Herron
Nancy Roche
Writing 1010-013
29 September 2014
Literacy from Gees Point of View
James Gee had a unique argument about the powers that literacy seemed to hold. He uses
the thoughts of other writers/religions to support his argument. There are different points made
that support Gees argument by many including: Plato, Freire, and groups such as the Swedish
and the Catholics. Gees primary argument was that literacy gave no additional power or
knowledge to those who obtained it.
Sweden had its own outbreak of literacy when it was used through reading to promote the
Christian church. Sweden supports Gees argument by establishing equality through literacy.
Men and women were equal when it came to literacy. Gee talks about Sweden and how they
obtained universal literacy. it gave everyone a certain political perspective without giving anyone
more power than another. Gees argument falls in line with the way Sweden handled literacy.
Gee introduces the words of Paulo Freire by associating him strongly with emancipatory
literacy. Freire believes that literacy come with a political perspective whether it be of church,
state, business or school (60). Although he believes in the political perspective, he never gives
literacy more power. Literacy will always be a part of politics but it will never give a certain
party an upper hand.
Another source for Gees argument was the Catholic culture from the eighteenth and
nineteenth century. At first Church leaders of the Catholics and Protestants did not want the
average person to obtain religious text because they thought it would be interpreted incorrectly

Herron 2
but eventually they stopped restricting access and allowed anyone to obtain it. this gave everyone
equal interpretation powers (54). Gee then questions the literacy in countries like Sweden from
the nineteenth century who were very open to literacy and looked at it as something everyone
can obtain, to other countries that were more restricted when it came to literacy and how it
affected that country.
Plato believed that true knowledge came when a statement was made and someone
asked the person who made the statement to explain what they mean (49). This forces the person
that made the statement to show his/her knowledge of what theyre stating, by having to re word
their statement. Gee explains how this is a way of establishing literacy for everyone. This is
showing that the person giving the statement wants everyone to understand it. Thus creating a
sense of equality.
Gee has many sources to support his argument on literacy. These writers and groups of
people all have a similar viewpoint on literacy. that is that literacy gives no one a higher political
status or raises them above anyone else in any way. Nations such as Sweden were able to
establish literacy across the entire country. Making sure everyone was equal. Plato and Freire
were similar in stating that although politics all contained a form of literacy, it in no way gave an
advantage to anyone. The myth that literacy gives someone more knowledge or power than those
who do not have it is argued by Gee in a very convincing way. He has many sources that confirm
his theory about literacy.

Herron 3

Works Cited
Gee (49-60)