Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Politics and International Relations

Second Department

Philosophy

Reader 1

Mar Golub

Reader 2

Martin Glazier

Abstract

Consciousness-raising, a project associated with the second-wave feminist movement, brought women together in small-group discussion-based meetings to gain collective critical understandings of their experiences as emerging from systems of oppression. Such meetings were intended to encourage women to engage in political action for women’s liberation. Despite its promising initial attempts to steer women toward revolutionary action, the consciousness-raising movement ultimately morphed into individualistic practices primarily serving middle-class white women, before phasing out altogether. This did not have to be the case. This thesis explores the lost potential of consciousness-raising, arguing that rather than imagine radically new techniques, feminist movements today could gain significant momentum by returning to the unfinished work of their predecessors.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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