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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

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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.

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Works Cited
Gee (49-60)

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Jake Herron
Nancy Roche
Writing 1010-013
23 September 2014
Exploring Gees Argument
Gee makes the myth of literacy very clear in his opening statements. Something
(referring to literacy) the possession of which makes people better and higher human beings.
(Gee 47) Literacy can be oral or written, it is expressed in different situations and interpreted
different by everyone. His argument plays to the inexperienced writers who are unsure about
literacy and whether or not they have it.
A large part of his argument involves Plato and his views on literacy. Plato was the first
writer to attack writing in writing. Doing so began a long argument as to how this is possible.
Writing is incapable of defending itself it cannot stand up to questioning. (Gee 49) When the oral
culture emerged and poets were telling of their stories, those could also not handle the question
What do you mean? it would force the poets to try and explain their poetry in new words. It
would no longer be poetry.
Platos dilemma talks about the requirement of authority for literacy to determine what
counts. Gees myth of literacy combats with this dilemma very well, reminding readers that
literacy does not bestow any special power onto a person. Sweden became the first country to
establish universal literacy. Even the women were equal with the men in literacy (which was
very uncommon) This literacy was established through home teaching that was supervised and
reinforced by the church and clergy. (Johansson 1977; Graff 1987b: 149)

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A question is brought forth from this myth basically asking what the point of literacy is if
it doesnt grant you a higher power or position. Studies were conducted on the Vai in Liberia by
psychologists Sylvia Scribner and Michael Cole (1981). (Gee 55) They tested the different forms
of literacy to find that none showed any evidence of giving someone a higher power or
knowledge. Some studies showed that after schooling, some people with literacy performed
better in verbal tasks; however, when it came to problem solving or reasoning tasks, they were
indifferent from the rest. This is another factor that supports Gees argument
Literacy has been an ongoing battle throughout history. The higher class individuals have
argued that the lower class individuals should not have literacy. According to them it will make
the lower class unhappy. It will allow them to see the situation they are in, being the lower
class. (Gee 58) Although there are some higher class individuals that believe that if lower class
individuals get literacy, they will start acting more like middle class citizens. This ranking is
based off of moral values and the way they act.
The ongoing battle of literacy is always going to be happening. We have to choose a side
and support it. Gee brings to light a very strong argument as to why literacy is not restricted to
higher class citizens, and the fact that literacy does not give any specific person more authority,
power, or advantage. Many different writers have their own opinion on literacy and many use it
differently.