Translated from “Critical Consciousness, Status Quo and Future Directions”:
“In our view, critical consciousness consists of three components: critical reflection, political efficacy, and critical action. Knowledge of critical consciousness and its components helps young practitioners and scholars facilitate the process and broaden understanding of the concept. Critical reflection refers to a social analysis and moral rejection of societal inequalities such as social, economic, racial/ethnic, and gender inequalities that restrict well-being and human agency. Those who reflect critically view social problems and inequalities systemically.” 46
The primary goal of woke activists is to promote critical consciousness: as many people as possible should develop understanding of power structures and apply the perspectives of various critical theories to society (see Conflict).
Through critical consciousness, one is able to view almost everything in society as a product of power, privilege, and oppression structures. Consciousness here means awareness of the significance of identities—that is, who is oppressed or privileged by society in what way.
The term “critical consciousness” was coined by the Marxist Paulo Freire, who created it as the goal of his educational theories (see Critical Pedagogy).47 Freire’s consciousness encompasses the components of critical reflection, critical motivation, and critical action. For Freire, it denotes the ability to recognise oppressive social forces and act against them. The Freirean concept of consciousness has since been expanded, particularly through intersectional perspectives.
The term “woke” (English for “awake”) is intended to describe an enlightened state of consciousness that only people with the correct political convictions can achieve (see False Consciousness). Woke individuals recognise the systemic nature of oppression as well as the socially conditioned significance of privileges and marginalisation (see Conflict).
“Woke” is rarely used as a self-description, as the term is associated with intolerance and condescension. More common self-designations are democratic, solidaristic, anti-racist, ally, inclusive, or socially just.