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Educated by Tara Westover, Illiteracy, Literacy, image, image, Social…
Educated
by Tara Westover
What do you think about how illiteracy was represented in your novel? What was the impact of illiteracy in your book?
Fear of Knowledge: Knowing illiteracy practiced and perpetuated by Westover family in order to maintain religious hold over family members (Slowly, the order of the family disintegrates over the course of the novel--culminating in one of the last scenes (Westover family dispersed at funeral of grandmother)
"Whoring after man's knowledge": illiteracy seen as a positive. Use of negative sexual terminology reinforces patriarchal hierarchy of Westover family/subordinance & denigration of femininity
The woman's place is in the kitchen
: the adage rings true throughout the narrative. Tara's educational journey is impeded by her father's enforcement of rigid gender roles. Tara's father's God-given "knowledge" is proven ridiculously inaccurate, oftentimes leading to physical pain for himself or others: (1) "God's angels are protecting us"; (2) "Mother will heal you"; (3) "schools are Satan's minions and agents of the Illuminati"; (4) "medicinal herbs are God's medicine/doctors will only kill you faster"
Sexual Illiteracy: lasting body shame; "Stockholm syndrome"; feelings of worthlessness; all sexual desire is "whoring"/no sense or experience with healthy sexuality;
no sex education
; sex for procreation only; men have complete dominance over women
What do you think about how literacy was achieved in your novel? What was the impact of literacy in your book?
Multiple literacies: (1) homesteading (holistic medicine, survival, manual labor, "prepper," mountaineering; (2) reading and writing; (3) emotional literacy (i.e., growth from absence to understanding) (4) survivalist
Education as Liberation: Tara's continued (structured) education (independent studies for standardized tests, BYU, & Cambridge) allows her to achieve a literacy that is encompassing (emotional, mental, physical, intellectual, spiritual)
Suppression/Manipulation of Knowledge = controlled literacy through manipulating and lying (i.e., Westover's "fear of God" =Religion (sect of Mormonism) as a form of manipulation & lasting control over family members)
Cultural Literacy/World Literacy: (1) Tara unaware of the
Shoah
when reading aloud for BYU professor; (2) Tara learning about the word "N-----" in context of Civil War/Civil Rights Movement/Continued Oppression of Black Americans in Modern Times/ Learning after talking to Shawn
Let us say social justice includes at least some of the following (a) providing means for individuals to meet their fullest potential; (b) empowering those previously disempowered; (c) challenging the roots of oppression; or (d) seeking fair distribution of resources and opportunities. Then, how do you think literacy, as it is represented in your book, connects to any of these aspects of social justice?
(a) Suppression of knowledge; limiting educational/vocational potential based on rigid gender roles; restricting or denying access to mental and physical healthcare
(b) school-age women should have access to free and appropriate education
(c) challenge patriarchy; challenge homeschooling as a viable form of education
or
hold homeschooling families to rigid curricula guidelines; challenge gender roles reinforced by institutions (family, government, school systems)
(d) welfare checks for school-age children; distribution of educational materials; extended access to internet and devices
What connections to your own classroom can you see? How might literacy in your discipline provide social justice for your students?
Diverse Library Content: class library with books about diverse experiences that students may not otherwise have access to
Library of Things: offer a no-pressure "library" for students to take what they need (i.e., menstrual products, condoms? <check with school admin about that!!, other sanitary products, etc.)
Sharing Access to Information: let students know about what is available to them online (i.e., through the public library, school system, etc.)
Ask Questions about Students: get to know students and better understand where they are coming from. Students may experience a "culture shock" coming to a public school, and you can provide them with education guidance and support
Personal Note: I was homeschooled, and I do not want to draw too many comparisons between my experience and Tara's for fear of dismissing or limiting her experience, there were some similarities in our upbringings. Knowledge is power; more importantly, the withholding of knowledge can lead to the enforcement of power.
Illiteracy
Literacy
Social Justice
Connections to Classroom
