Recognition and Redistribution: Rethinking the Meaning of Justice in Adult Education

This chapter discusses how adult education might contribute to the achievement of greater equality by drawing on case studies of three family literacy programs in Scotland. What is meant by equality can, however, be conceptualized in a number of ways. At one end of the spectrum is equality of opportunity where the focus is on the achievement of equality of access to, and participation in, education. The underlying assumption is that education is meritocratic and we live in a fair society that ensures that people will progress according to their ability (Gerwitz, 1998). From this perspective socio-economic adversity can be overcome by enabling access to a wide range of educational opportunities that individuals can take up or not according to their own motivation. At the other end is social justice where not only the economic but also the cultural aspects of justice are seen as vital. From this perspective remedying injustice requires not only the redistribution of opportunities but also equality of condition, which encompasses recognition of people’s identities and their cultural diversity (Keddie, 2012).