As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we are proud to spotlight the remarkable work of our senior thesis writers, who contribute significantly to feminist discourse across a range of topics.
Women’s History Month – a joint project by The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – is celebrated in March. It aims to commemorate and encourage the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
Three of our 2025 senior thesis cohort – Kiersten Hash, Abigail Mack, and Saba Mehrzad – took up this challenge, and their research not only contributes to a greater understanding but also inspires change by addressing crucial issues surrounding women and gender norms.
Kiersten Hash examines political rhetoric through the lens of Black motherhood. Her thesis How legislators use political rhetoric to counter harmful narratives about their communities: the case of Black mothers, the PRWORA, and the Momnibus investigates how Black women in Congress use their speeches to challenge detrimental stereotypes specifically during the enactment of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act and the recent Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. Kiersten’s findings reveal that Black female legislators utilize their rhetoric not only to advocate for Black mothers but also to present more race-specific counter-narratives in contemporary contexts.
Abigail Mack explores the gender norms that hinder female candidates in the U.S. presidential race. As a joint Government and Philosophy concentrator, her thesis Women in the West Wing: Exploring How Gender Norms Impact Female Candidates’ Presidential Prospects examines societal stereotypes through the lens of the Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton campaigns. Abigail highlights the contrasting societal expectations of masculinity and femininity and argues for a reevaluation of the epistemic credibility afforded to women in politics.
Watch her three-minute thesis recap below:
Saba Mehrzad addresses career aspirations among Harvard College women, with her thesis Leaning In or Opting-Out: Examining the Career Aspirations of Harvard College Women. Through surveys and interviews, Saba’s research investigates whether young women from egalitarian family backgrounds are more inclined to pursue full-time careers. Her work exposes underlying structural factors and contributes to discussions on labor policies affecting gender disparities in the workforce.
Watch her three-minute thesis recap below:
These projects represent a tapestry of feminist scholarship, preserving and amplifying women’s voices in today’s academic landscape.