Agential Realism in a Community-Based Organization in Mexico: An Ethico-Onto-Epistemology of Emancipatory Learning

Abstract

This article shares the findings of a qualitative study of a community-based organization in Mexico and the emancipatory pedagogy practiced there in a time characterized by a changing global economic order, conflict and war, corruption and geographic displacement. To make sense of the transnational philosophical fusion and the pedagogical practices in the organization, I draw on Karen Barad’s ideas to propose an ethico-onto-epistemology of emancipatory learning to uncover power in spaces of self/knowledge that are outside the binaries of critical-theoretical practice. It suggests an understanding of emancipatory learning that is relational, embodied, ethical, and emergent.

A many‐splendored thing? Transformative learning for social justice

“…Such methodological creativity is rooted in the careful consideration feminists have given to epistemology and power. Frequently, feminism is also used as a way of seeing and a set of philosophical insights which allow us to rethink theory and how we use it (Brooks, 2019;English & Peters, 2012;Gouthro, 2019;McGregor, 2004). 5 It should also be said that feminism has informed TLSJ across perspectives and thematic clusters, for instance Johnson-Bailey's work is underpinned by feminist values.…”

“…Such methodological creativity is rooted in the careful consideration feminists have given to epistemology and power. Frequently, feminism is also used as a way of seeing and a set of philosophical insights which allow us to rethink theory and how we use it (Brooks, 2019; English & Peters, 2012; Gouthro, 2019; McGregor, 2004). 5…”

Contributions from the ethico-onto-epistemological perspective for research in the field of education policy

“…A ideia central é que o que pesquisamos está entrelaçado à "maneira" como pesquisamos. 5 Entre os autores que se inspiram em Barad (2007), destacam-se: Barraclough (2018); Brooks (2019); Davies (2021); Geerts & Carstens (2019); Kuby & Zhao (2022); Lenz Taguchi (2010); Revelles-Benavente (2020); Ribeiro (2019); Song (2020); e Zhao (2021).…”