Blog Post #2: Social Movements

According to Charles J. Stewart, Craig Allen Smith, and Robert E. Denton, a Social Movement must meet six criteria: 1) It is Organized, 2) Uninstitutionalized, 3) Large in Scope, 4) Promotes or Opposes Changes in Societal Norms and Values, 5) Encounters Opposition in a Moral Struggle, and 6) Relies Primarily on Persuasion to Bring About or Resist Change (pp. 23). Essentially, Social Movements are never single minded, as they possess multiple and identifiable “leaders or spokespersons, members or followers, and organizations or coalitions” (pp. 2). Moreover, they are never a part of established orders. Instead, of following regulation, Social Movements strive to make a difference and change societal norms and values by relying on persuasion. Sometimes seen as “threats to traditional values and norms… movements generate strong opposition” (pp. 15). Furthermore, Social Movements are “Large in Scope,” this scope encompasses “geographical area, life span, events, organizations, leaders, participants, goals, strategies, and adaptations (pp. 10). 

The Women’s Liberation Movement or Feminist Movement is considered a Social Movement, as it matches all the descriptions delineated by the authors. First, the Feminist Movement is composed of various organizations all-striving for the equality of women. These organizations include: Equality Now, International Women’s Suffrage Alliance, The National Organization for Women (NOW), etc. The Women’s Liberation Movement is also, a Social Movement that is occurring throughout the world and for a vast amount of time, from slutwalks in Canada, to torchlight marches in England supporting rape victims, to protest in Saudi Arabia for driving rights, the Feminist movement is a global movement. However, despite its large support, the Feminist Movement has endured immense controversy and hardships in regards to changing societal norms and values. Some simple-minded individuals who have been habituated though their culture and tradition believe that women are naturally inferior to men, the Feminist Movement was once considered uninstitutionalized for this very reason and in some countries still is considered unethical. For instance, First-Wave Feminist (19^th and early 20^th century) fought to overturn legal inequalities, such as women’s suffrage. They accomplished this through the use of persuasion using verbal and nonviolent efforts to influence their target audience and alter their views on women’s equality through their thoughts, feelings, and actions.