Becoming critical in physical education: a Freirean approach to the Praxis of embodiment

Abstract

Physical Education (PE) places the body at the forefront, with embodiment emerging as a concept that transcends the traditional dualistic view, recognising the diverse embodied experiences of students (Aartun et al., 2022; Lambert et al., 2024). However, there remains a lack of studies that connect pedagogies of embodiment to critical theories. From a critical perspective, the Brazilian writer and philosopher Paulo Freire offers a theoretical construct that emphasises education for social change. This conceptual paper aims to explore the possibilities of a Freirean-inspired pedagogy of embodiment in PE, drawing on some constructs–including conscientização, praxis, dialogue, and humanisation–..