The Ethnography of literacy

"It should not be surprising to see differences in literacy between members of different ethnic groups, sexes, socioeconomic classes, etc. Indeed, one might hypothesize the existence of literacy-cycles, or individual variation in abilities and activities that are conditioned by one's stage and position in life. What I would expect to discover, then, is not a single level of literacy, on a single continuum form reader to non reader, but a variety of configurations of literacy, a plurality of literacies." p.423, "The Ethnography of Literacy", John F. Szwed
What is literacy? Literacy is" educated", the second meaning listed is "able to read and write", and the third meaning listed in the dictionary is" polished and lucid". Using the dictionary meanings I can lists three different groups of literate classes. I could next begin a list by sex, racial group, etc. The word Ethnograpy is "a science dealing with races of human beings, their
origin,distribution characteristics, and relations. We now begin to truly study the family, in relationship to their individual level of literacy and the affect that it has on their lives. Next we need to see the affect an literacy has on family and next the community. "The capacity to read and write is causally associated with earning a living, achieving expanded horizons of personal enlightenment and enjoyment, maintaining a stable and democratic society, and historically, with the rise of civilization itself"(p.421) My literacy level will have either a positive affect on my future or a negative if I fail to graduate as planned, I plan to be a member of the educated group.