Critical Consciousness Development of Black Women Activists: A Qualitative Examination

Critical consciousness is important in that it helps oppressed people to broaden their analysis of personal problems, recognize the historical and political contexts in which those problems have developed, and thus occupy a better position from which to engage in actions which will address the root causes of oppression at a structural level. This study explored the process of critical consciousness development among a sample of U.S. Black women involved in social justice work. The study elicited the women’s perceptions of the conditions, influences, and processes that contributed to their conscientization. Such findings afford new insights into Black women’s resistance to multiple oppressions and contribute to a psychology of Black women that is rooted in their authentic experiences and worldviews. This study employed an interpretative phenomenological methodology and was based on observations and interviews with a purposefully selected sample of Black women within the United States.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Akron

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Turner-Essel, Laura D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Speight, Suzette

• Counseling Psychology
• Psychology
• Black women
• activists
• activism
• critical consciousness
• development
• social justice
• phenomenology

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1340049818

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:akron1340049818