Concepts used by Paulo Freire
Paulo Freire's pedagogical approach has been applied in many contexts, but it is more than simply a collection of methods or techniques. Here we outline briefly some of the key concepts in Freire's work.
Culture of silence The culture of silence, as defined by Paulo Freire, refers to a situation where oppressed people are trapped by a lack of power, and prevented from expressing and acting upon their thoughts and experiences. This silencing can be caused by fear, lack of access to education, or the internalization of oppressive beliefs. The culture of silence maintains the status quo by preventing those who are marginalized from having their voices heard, and from participating in the decisions that affect their lives. Breaking the culture of silence is a critical step towards liberation. Praxis (Action/Reflection) Praxis is a continuous cycle—we would say a spiral—of action and reflection....
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