Blog Post 2

Blog Post 2

            Collectively, Stewart, Smith and Denton define social movements through a variety of characteristics.  Social movements at times cause confusion and disagreement, over the idea if they are actually social movements, because society labels them movements based upon trends and fads, internal changes and adjustments within established institutions, political action committees, social movement organizations isolated and limited acts of protest, cults, campaigns, uprisings, revolutions and civil wars.  They can be defined by their geographical area, life span, events, organizations, leaders, participants, goals, strategies, and adaptations.  Most importantly, the duration of the movement, the amount of activists and the events that are held to inform and protest determine how successful they will be.  There are six essential requirements for them to become and remain viable forces against change.  These include: transforming perceptions of reality, altering self-perceptions of protestors, legitimizing social movements, prescribing courses of action, mobilizing for action, and sustaining the social movement.  In conclusion, social movements can be categorized as struggles that can change the norms or values of society.

            The Gay Rights movement is a rather new social movement and prominent throughout the United States.   Although it may be hard to identify, there are leaders to this movement through various organizations.  Another important aspect of social movements is the campaigns they conduct.  Gay rights activist are working hard everyday to legalize gay marriage.  They conduct their campaigns from the top down with a leader and staff to run them.  They always have a goal in mind.  Something that makes this movement strong and successful is the size, time it has been since it began, and the events held to attract more activists.   If legalizing gay marriage were to become prominent throughout the country, it would change our societies values and soon homosexuals would be accepted throughout.  For example, in the past fifty years, racism of African Americans has slowly diminished.   Fifty years ago African Americans were subject to riding in the back of public buses and were segregated in schools.  However, now our society has an African American president.  Society is changing its values of equality among races.  In a few years, if the gay rights activists are successful, society will see homosexuals as equals as well. 

Jordan Dobrow