We the People : Social Protests Movements and the Shaping of American Democracy

We the People: Social Protest Movements and the Shaping of American Democracy uses a historical and a contemporary focus to demonstrate the integral role that social protest movements play in challenging social and structural inequality along the intersecting axis of identity politics, socioeconomic status and ability, and why social protest movements should matter to social workers. The book examines how social protest movements influence progressive social policy and elucidates the social conditions that give rise to protest, how protest creates social movements, and the functions and goals of social protest movements. By exploring various theoretical perspectives, it brings both a historical and a contemporary lens to the examination of social protest movements and elucidates the critical role that social protest movements play in American democracy. With a discussion of emerging trends and the future of social protest movements, We the People explains and offers strategies for both students and social workers to develop the skills to think critically and take part in social protest movements as policy practitioners. We the People: Social Protest Movements and the Shaping of American Democracy uses a historical and a contemporary focus to demonstrate the integral role that social protest movements play in challenging social and structural inequality along the intersecting axis of identity politics, socioeconomic status and ability, and why social protest movements should matter to social workers. Cover 1 Endorsements 2 Half Title 4 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Table of Contents 8 Detailed Contents 10 Acknowledgments 14 Preface 15 About the Author 18 1. Social Protest Movements and American Democracy 20 Social Protest Movements as Critical Components of American Democracy and the Policy-Making Process 20 Defining Social Protest Movements 21 Democracy, Pluralism, and Social Protest Movements 22 Why Social Protest Movements Matter to Social Workers 24 Five Social Protest Movements That Have Shaped American Democracy 26 The Abolition Movement (1830–1865) 26 Important Figures 26 Abolition Movement Groups 26 The Women’s Rights Movement (1848–Present) 28 Important Figures 28 Women’s Rights Movement Groups 28 The Civil Rights Movement (1958–1968) 30 Important Figures 30 Civil Rights Groups 30 The Disability Rights Movement (1960s–present) 32 Key Figures 32 Disability Rights Groups 32 The LGBTQ+ Rights Movement (1969–present) 33 Key Figures 33 LGBTQ+ Rights Groups 33 Quiz 35 Short Answer Assignment 35 References 35 2. Theoretical Perspectives of Social Protest Movements 40 Explaining Social Protest Movements 40 Relative Deprivation Theory 41 Structural Strain Theory 43 Resource Mobilization Theory 44 Political Process Theory 46 Political Opportunities 47 Mobilizing Structures 47 Framing Process 47 Protest Cycle 47 Contentious Repertoires 47 New Social Movements Theory 48 Oppositional Consciousness 48 Quiz 50 Short Answer Assignment 50 References 50 3. Types of Social Protest Movements 53 The Different Types of Social Protest Movements and Their Distinguishing Features 53 Alterative Social Protest Movements 54 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) 55 Redemptive Social Protest Movements 57 The Anti-Abortion Movement 57 Reformative Social Protest Movements 59 The Temperance Movement 59 Revolutionary Social Protest Movements 61 The Arab Spring 62 Quiz 64 Short Answer Assignment 64 References 64 4. Stages of Social Protest Movements 67 Historical Stage Models 67 A Contemporary Stage Model 68 Stage 1: Emergence 68 Illustration: Black Lives Matter 69 Stage 2: Coalescence 71 Illustration: Black Lives Matter 72 Stage 3: Bureaucratization 73 Illustration: MADD 74 Stage 4: Decline 74 Success 74 Failure 75 Co-optation 77 Repression 77 Going mainstream 79 Quiz 80 Short Answer Assignment 80 References 80 5. What Makes a Successful Social Protest Movement? 84 Steps for a Successful Social Protest Movement 84 Why the Modern Civil Rights Movement Was Needed 85 Reconstruction (1863–1877) 85 Jim Crow (1877–1964) 87 The Early Civil Rights Movement (1877–1954) 88 Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956) 90 The Modern Civil Rights Movement (1954–1965) 91 The Five Steps for a Successful Movement 91 Step 1: Define the Change You Want to See 91 Step 2: Shift the Spectrum of Allies 92 Step 3: Identify the Pillars of Power 93 Step 4: Seek to Attract, Not Overpower 94 Step 5: Build a Plan to Survive Victory 95 Quiz 95 Short Answer Assignment 95 References 95 6. Social Work Practice and Social Protest Movement Participation 99 Background 99 Micro and Macro Practice 100 The Micro and Macro Practice Divide: A Historical Context 100 The Charity Organization Society (COS) 101 The Settlement House Movement (SHM) 101 Why Social Protest Matters to Social Work 103 Social Work Skills, Experience, and Social Protest Movement Participation 104 Case Study 105 Nancy’s Story 105 Charlotte’s Story 107 Plan of Action 107 Step 1 107 Step 2 108 Step 3 108 Step 4 108 Outcome 108 Quiz 109 Short Answer Assignment 110 References 110 7. Where Social Protest and Social Work Meet 113 Values and Advocacy 113 Values 113 Advocacy 114 Proximity to and Knowledge of Social Issues and Problems 117 Defining Change and Cultivating Social Networks 119 Identify Pillars of Power and Conduct Legislative Advocacy 121 Social Protest and Social Work Do Meet 123 Conclusion 124 Quiz 128 Short Answer Assignment 128 References 128 8. Emerging Trends and the Future of Social Protest Movements 130 Introduction 130 Social Media and Social Protest Movements 130 The Millennial Generation and Social Protest Movements 134 Generation Z and Social Protest Movements 136 Brands and Social Protest Movements 137 Conclusion 138 Quiz 139 Short Answer Assignment 139 References 139 Index 142 "1,Social,Protest,Movements,and,American,Democracy;,2,Theoretical,Perspectives,of,Social,Protest,Movements;,3,Types,of,Social,Protest,Movements;,4,Stages,of,Social,Protest,Movements;,5,What,Makes,a,Successful,Social,Protest,Movement?;,6,Social,Work,Practice,and,Social,Protest,Movement,Participation;,7,Where,Social,Protest,and,Social,Work,Meet;,8,Emerging,Trends,and,the,Future,of,Social,Protest,Movements" 1 Social Protest Movements and American Democracy; 2 Theoretical Perspectives of Social Protest Movements; 3 Types of Social Protest Movements; 4 Stages of Social Protest Movements; 5 What Makes a Successful Social Protest Movement?; 6 Social Work Practice and Social Protest Movement Participation; 7 Where Social Protest and Social Work Meet; 8 Emerging Trends and the Future of Social Protest Movements "We the People: Social Protest Movements and the Shaping of American Democracy uses a historical and contemporary focus to demonstrate the integral role that social protest movements play in challenging social and structural inequality along the intersecting axis of identity politics, socioeconomic status and ability, and why social protest movements should matter to social workers. The book examines how social protest movements influence progressive social policy and elucidates the social conditions that give rise to protest, how protest creates social movements, and the functions and goals of social protest movements. By exploring various theoretical perspectives, it brings a historical and contemporary lens to the examination of social protest movements and elucidates the critical role that social protest movements play in American democracy. With a discussion of emerging trends and the future of social protest movements, We the People explains and offers strategies for both students and social workers to develop the skills to think critically and take part in social protest movements as policy practitioners"-- Provided by publisher For social work students with little to no understanding of social protest movements, this book illuminates the critical role that social protest movements have, not only in shaping American democracy and the policy-making process, but also in challenging social and structural inequality on both the individual and system level.