Date of Award
Spring 5-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
English
First Advisor
Ian Barnard
Second Advisor
Jan Osborn
Third Advisor
Margie Curwen
Abstract
This thesis explores the intricate relationship between education, identity formation, and oppression, drawing from psychosocial and sociocultural perspectives. I delve into how education serves as a critical arena where individuals encounter various internal psychological conflicts and external social influences that shape their sense of self. By analyzing the perspectives of writers such as Paulo Freire, bell hooks, Kate Chopin Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Erin Gruwell, the thesis seeks to answer how education impacts the self and how it intersects with systems of oppression. Furthermore, I explore the role of education in fostering critical consciousness and empowerment, particularly in the face of oppressive structures that seek to marginalize individuals based on race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability. Through an analysis of these themes, I aim to illuminate the transformative potential of education in shaping individual identities and dismantling systemic inequalities.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Sakzlyan, Sofia. Navigating Identity Through Education in Literature and in the Classroom. 2024. Chapman University, MA Thesis. Chapman University Digital Commons, https://doi.org/ 10.36837/chapman.000561
Included in
Educational Methods Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Other English Language and Literature Commons