Critical looks in Mathematics Education

Abstract

In this article, we review the different ways in which social studies’ theories have affected mathematics education. Such theories bring critical views and resistance movements in mathematics education. Specifically, we regard contributions from Marxist theory to Critical Mathematics Education. We also explore the influence of some poststructuralists, such as Foucault and Deleuze, to the sociopolitical movement in mathematics education. In all the cases, we criticize the neutrality of mathematics and mathematics education in terms of each theory’s views of power. Finally, we introduce examples of the resistances to the use of mathematics education as a tool that responds to economic interests and to the power of hegemonic speeches.