Critical Paradigm

Critical Paradigms
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Critical paradigms describe theoretical pillars promoting critique and deconstruction of organizations, laws, establishments, practices, and definitions to illustrate power inequities. Advocates of critical paradigms posit that an inquirer’s belief unavoidably impacts a research’s outcome, but these influences do not substantially pose threats on the overall quality of the research (Patton et al., 2016). More so, the proponents advocate that inquiry is a transactional activity, characteristically carried out as a dialogue between the research team and the researched. Remarkably, inquiry enhances fundamental social transformations by raising awareness and correcting injustices (Patton et al., 2016). It is important to note that the work of most modern identity academics in Student Development is categorized under critical paradigm.
One of the main theories under critical paradigm is Cultural Race Theory (CRT). It is a view that emphasizes on the centrality of racism and race and challenges the notion of white supremacy in social systems such as education, law, and politics. One of the explicit objectives of CRT is to critique and deconstruct normative institutions that promote racism or racial oppression (Patton et al., 2016). Another theory under critical paradigm is Black Feminism or Womanism, which is an approach that connects racism, classism, and sexism as the fundamental forces in society. Just like CRT, black f…