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Intro to Sociology Ch 16 Notes
Introduction to Sociology (SOC 110)
Des Moines Area Community College
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Chapter 16: Changing Society
through Social Movements
16 Is a Social Movement?
A social movement is a collective, organized, sustained effort to make a social change.
16 Key Terms
social movement: Forms when people who want social change create an organization that is collective, organized, and sustained and challenges authorities, powerholders, or cultural beliefs in noninstitutional ways protest: An individual or group act of challenging, resisting, or making demands toward social change civil disobedience: Purposely breaking social customs or laws to make a point about a cause
16 in Social Movements
People participate in social movements when they feel passionately about an issue. They may participate as beneficiary constituents, who will directly benefit from the goals of the social movement (i., same-sex couples who would like marriage equality). Or they may participate as conscience constituents, who will not benefit directly but feel strongly about the cause.
16 Key Terms
beneficiary constituents: People who stand to benefit directly from the social change being sought conscience constituents: People who care about a cause but do not benefit directly from the changes mobilizing: Spreading the word and bringing people together to support the goal of a social movement
community-based organizing: Individual activists become involved in a movement because of an issue directly affecting their community
16 of Social Movements
While some social movements push for massive social change, others press for limited changes to society. There are four different types of movements: alternative, redemptive, reformative, and revolutionary. Alternative social movements advocate for limited societal change. Redemptive social movements seek more radical change in individual behavior. Reformative social movements work for specific changes across society. The goal of revolutionary social movements is a radical reorganization of society.
16 Key Terms
alternative social movements: Advocate for limited societal change but do not ask individuals to change their personal beliefs. They often target a narrow group of people and focus on a single concern redemptive social movements: Seek radical change in individual behavior reformative social movements: Work for specific change across society revolutionary social movements: Aim to achieve a radical reorganization of society
16 Movement Theory
Sociologists use theories to understand different aspects of how social movements work. Conflict theorists look at how social movements develop from inequality. When a group of people feels deprived of something they believe they should have access to (rights, money, power, etc.), they will protest. Symbolic interactionists are interested in the shared language and symbolism—like the peace sign—that hold social movements together and help spread their message.
feminist organization: An organization working to end women’s oppression repression: Takes place when people and/or institutions with power use that power to control or destroy a movement co-optation: Happens when the leadership of the movement begins to identify with the targets of social change and starts to work more for them than for the original movement goals
16 Can Bring Backlash: The Marriage Equality
Movement
Some organizations stay within the limits of the law, protesting with permits and cooperating with police and officials. Other organizations may decide to participate in civil disobedience—blocking roads or buildings—to make their point heard. Other more radical organizations might break into buildings, destroy property, and further disrupt people’s lives. Each of these tactics has positive and negative aspects the movement must consider. Organizations often do research and work with communities to find the best tactics for social change. Effective tactics build support for a movement, but this growth in support can inspire fear and resentment of change among those most ardently opposed to the movement. This can lead to increased acts of discrimination.
16 Can We Create Social Change?
Social change can come from the top or the bottom, but it requires getting involved. Examine inequality and discrimination from an intersectional perspective. Raise awareness about the things that matter to you and engage in the political process. Speak up when you disagree with what you see around you, but be sure to listen to people with other perspectives and consider their views.
16 Key Terms
interdependent power: The ties that bind institutions and individuals together and help explain how social change can come from poor or powerless individuals participatory action research: Starts with the idea that people are the experts in their own lives and can participate in the research process. The people who live in a community participate in the research process and help produce the knowledge collectively collective solidarity: A sense of social bonding that strengthens our ties to one another ally: A conscience constituent who is committed to the cause
Intro to Sociology Ch 16 Notes
Course: Introduction to Sociology (SOC 110)
University: Des Moines Area Community College
