Consciousness-raising Quote by Richard Dawkins
““so deeply ingrained is the unconscious northern hemisphere chauvinism in those of us who live there, and even some who don't. 'Unconscious' is exactly right. That is where consciousness-raising comes in. It is for a deeper reason than gimmicky fun that, in Australia and New Zealand, you can buy maps of the world with the South Pole on top. What splendid consciousness-raisers those maps would be, pinned to the walls of our northern hemisphere classrooms. Day after day, the children would be reminded that 'north' is an arbitrary polarity which has no monopoly on 'up'.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on cultural bias, 2005
The quote highlights how the dominant Northern Hemisphere perspective shapes our worldview unconsciously, urging a re‑examination of spatial metaphors to foster global equity.
In simple terms: Our default north‑up view hides other perspectives; we need to change that.
Key Takeaway
Challenge and maps and curricula to show varied orientations.
Themes
cultural bias
perspective
education
Mood
reflective
critical
inspirational
Type
educational
activist
When to use this quote
- school classrooms
- policy discussions
- map design
- global education programs
Key Concepts
geography
cognitive psychology
decolonization
Questions to Reflect On
- How does spatial framing affect our assumptions?
- What steps can educators take to broaden worldviews?
A Different Perspective
Changing maps alone won’t erase deep‑seated biases; systemic change is required.
