Consciousness Raising

In the context of 1960s and 70s feminism, consciousness raising (CR) refers to the practice of discussing the consequences of sexism, racism, and classism in intimate groups of similarly identified individuals. CR was both a political strategy, as well as an opportunity for individual and collective transformation. CR sheds light on how patriarchy gaslights people into doubting their reality and equips them with tools on how to affirm their lived experiences. For many, CR meetings served as an entrypoint into feminism and activism.