26-34
The difference between consciousness raising and brainwashing:
With consciousness raising, we encourage other people to
look at all sides of a question and draw their own conclusions. With
brainwashing, we encourage others to look only at our side and to
arrive only at conclusions we agree with.
All of us who have been discussion leaders and ‘consciousness
raisers’ are guilty, to some degree, of brainwashing. We should
admit this and warn our students against accepting anything we say
without questioning it.
Suggestions for guarding against brainwashing when leading a group dialogue:
• Try to ask questions that are truly open ended and that do not let the group
know what reply you prefer or expect.
• For ‘discussion starters’ use words, pictures, or objects that are familiar and will
spark ideas. But leave the related social and political problems for the group to
figure out from their own experiences. Avoid pictures or stories that take sides
or spell everything out. (Compare the bird drawing on page 26-26 with the police
and law drawings on page 26-31.)
• As much as possible, try to avoid stating your own opinions and ideas. But
when you do state them, make it clear that they are yours. Do not try to put your
thoughts into other people’s mouths.
• Be prepared for the discussion to go
in directions you never expected.
Be ready to accept the opinions and
conclusions of the group—even
when you disagree.
• Alert the group to your own
tendency to impose your ideas on
them. Warn them to doubt and
question everything you say.
• Welcome criticism and
disagreement. Accept a sincere
attack on your own ideas as a sign
of successful leadership.
• Keep your language simple. Use
the same words the people use to
talk about their own experiences.
Avoid like poison the/argon and
cliches of public health, social
science, and leftist politics. Also avoid
the unusual and confusing language
of ‘consciousness raising’ (see the
next page). Never use a word
you cannot explain clearly and
quickly to the people you are
talking with. Insist that others
interrupt you whenever you use a word or expression they do not understand.