Blog Post 3

One persuasive function found in Chapter 3 is sustaining the social movement. This function is important in all social movements because most social movements last for years and require persuasion to sustain their lengthy process. It is necessary for social movements to bring about change and to show their supporters what must be done in order to accomplish their goals. Leaders of social movements must use persuasion to maintain order and discipline and counteract the opposition. Social movements wage continual battles to remain viable, they must utilize whatever alternative media that is available to them. The social movement must maintain visibility by whatever means necessary including: billboards, bumper stickers, t-shirts, cards, websites, or newspapers. It is easy for people to simply forget about current events if they are not constantly reminded of them.

The anti-abortion campaign does a good job in using this persuasive function. As this social movement has been going on for years, the necessity to sustain their movement is always increasing. This social movement maintains their goals of making abortions illegal throughout the country and can represent this to their supporters through controversy within state laws and hospitals. We can be reminded of the anti-abortion campaign by watching the television and seeing their commercials or even just by driving around and seeing their billboards. Many people around the country can be seen driving in their cars with a variety of anti-abortion bumper stickers.