Critical consciousness

Abstract

This article reviews critical consciousness (CC) theory, including how critical consciousness develops during adolescence and the outcomes of this development for youth. Additionally, we provide a broad overview of the history of CC measurement and highlight future directions to extend measurement to approaches that are inclusive of youths' authentic experiences and augment our understanding of how young people reflect on, negotiate, and challenge social inequities. Throughout the article, we situate CC theory within the current sociopolitical climate and consider how global events, including social movements and the COVID-19 pandemic, have amplified experiences of oppression among adolescents, particularly those with social identities historically marginalized by society. Given the relevance of CC as a developmental asset and “antidote” to oppression, we conclude with recommendations to shift adolescent research toward scholarship and practices that integrate CC with theories aimed at elevating the voices, identities, and experiences of young people and ultimately, support adolescents' leading efforts to enact social change.