Critical Theory

Critical theory is rooted in phenomenology, a philosophical approach emphasising the role of interpretation in human life in which subjective experience is seen as a reality. Critical theory also acknowledges that everyone has a 'social location' made up of attributes such as gender, race and social class. This means that as well as each individual having their own subjective experience of the world, some subjective experiences are shared by groups of people who share one or more attributes such as gender, race and social class.

Critical theory is particularly useful as a frame for viewing issues of social policy and anti-discriminatory practice.