Blog Post 2

According to the first chapter in Persuasion and Social Movements, there are six characteristics that constitute a group or idea as a social movement. These groups or ideas must be organized, uninstitutionalized with any other political or government group, large, promote an idea of change,  have belief that they are fighting a moral battle, and persuade the public to join their efforts. First, the group or idea must be organized, meaning that specific groups, leaders, and members must distinguished. A group cannot expect to gain followers if they do not have any sort of organization. Next, in order to be considered a social movement, the group must be uninstitutionalized with any other political or governmental group. This means that they cannot have a role in society as a structured group that institutes laws or has a say in the way society is run. Social movements must be large, but not only in the numerical sense. Social movements and groups must cover a widespread area and time period in order to gain recognition as true social movements. Social movements must also promote an idea of change, this is more or less what the group is 'all about' or what they are fighting for. Belief that they are fighting a moral battle is also important because it gives a social movement a purpose. This plainly means that the organization or group truly believes that what they are fighting for is the only true and moral choice, and that what they believe is for the betterment of society. Finally, social movements also must persuade the public to join their efforts by recruiting members and voicing their opinions. Otherwise these ideas won't gain a following and will not grow geographically or numerically in numbers,

Human trafficking awareness is a great example of a social movement that follows each of these six criteria. First, this social movement is organized by means of multiple groups that are fighting for this one cause. There is Love146, ECPAT, and EVE just to name a few. These human trafficking coalitions are not aligned with any governmental or political groups anywhere in the world. Human trafficking groups are large, and the movement has been spread world-wide over time. Human trafficking groups promote the idea that human trafficking is wrong through boycotting, advertisement, and rescue missions. These groups do believe they are fighting a moral battle for the betterment of society and the equality of all people. And finally, human trafficking coalitions are frequently trying to gain members and followers for their cause by advertising and hosting events to open society's eyes to what is happening in other countries and our own.