Literate parents are able to teach their children to read and write, while illiterate parents cannot. Children of literate parents have a better chance of becoming literate themselves. Literate parents can teach children how to read and write and can buy them books and other beneficial literature.
The chance for employment is reduced by the inability to read and write. Literacy is necessary to read literature provided by the employer, such as important guidelines, procedures and written warnings regarding hazards. Interacting socially with other literate employees is difficult, resulting in a depreciation of the work experience. Most jobs require applicants to be literate.
Illiterate people are potentially more prone to illness and disease. It prevents them from understanding written warnings, precautionary instructions or directions from doctors or pharmacists. It prevents them from reading how much medicine they should be taking, how often, and what to do in case of an overdose. Public announcements regarding important health matters and other printed information cannot be acted upon due to the inability to read.
Literacy helps a person understand his position concerning the law. Whether the documentation is from police, a court or attorney, an illiterate person is often unable to understand his rights according to the law. An example of this is the inability to get a driver's license, due to being unable to read the test questions.
Political participation is hampered, since the illiterate person cannot read pertinent literature. An illiterate person can only rely on the verbal information. Without the ability to read opinions in a newspaper or political goals of the parties involved, the illiterate person will usually either not vote or be an uninformed voter.