Much of what is traditionally taught in schools primarily reflects the experience of those who are middle class, Western, heterosexual and male. Although most educated people understand that language changes and will continue to change, not everyone realizes that knowledge also changes and will continue to change. Because of this, transformative knowledge periodically challenges the key assumptions of popular knowledge and traditional academic knowledge. Currently, transformative knowledge in many disciplines assumes that motivation and relative power can influence even the most scientific inquiries. However, words are not people.
Individuals learn their language and culture long before they learn to think independently.
Although some people never question the ideas and values they inherited by being born in a particular place at a particular time, adults adopt what is best in a culture and try to change what is not. Some readers might find some of the articles sexist, racist, homophobic or offensive to their religious beliefs. They might object to their inclusion on the grounds that they are already subjected to enough of these, and shouldn t have to read them in a women s studies course. Again, rational discussion of sensitive issues forces all people to examine and reassess their own ideas. Honest differences on the issues can result in better critical thinking and a better understanding of why people disagree.