Features of a Social Movement
Social movements are organized efforts by a group of individuals to bring about social change. These movements have distinct features, which include sustained collective action, a certain level of organization, and shared objectives or ideologies among the participants.
Key Features
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Sustained Collective Action: Social movements require prolonged efforts from their members to effect change, as opposed to fragmented or spontaneous protests.
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Organization: A social movement must have some form of organization, which can involve leadership and structures that define how members interact, make decisions, and carry out their actions.
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Shared Objectives: The individuals in a social movement share common goals, ideologies, and orientations regarding the desired changes they wish to see in society.
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Public Issues: Social movements typically emerge in response to public issues, advocating for rights and changes in state policy, such as environmental protection or social justice for marginalized groups.
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Counter Movements: They can face opposition in the form of counter movements, which defend the status quo against the proposed changes. Historical examples include opposition to the campaigns for women's rights and education reforms.
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Methods of Action: Protest is the most visible form of action, but social movements also engage in meetings, campaigns, and diverse forms of protests like street theatre and symbolic actions. For instance, Gandhi's use of non-violent protests or the modern strategies employed by various movements today.
Distinction from Social Change
Social change is a continuous process reflecting the sum of numerous individual and collective actions over time, while social movements are aimed at specific goals over a sustained period, often leading to significant shifts in societal norms and policies. This section emphasizes how social movements can inspire one another and create lasting impacts on society.