Social movements and identity

Question 1

What are the 3 analytics dimensions of identity?

Answer 1

• Identity for empowerment
• Identity as goal
• Identity as strategy

Question 2

What is Identity for Empowerment?

Answer 2

• creation of a collective identity to mobilize individuals into group action and foster political consciousness.
• helps translate individual interests into collective action, which is key for movement building

Question 3

What is Identity as Goal?

Answer 3

• use of collective action to challenge stigmatized identities, gain recognition for new identities, or deconstruct restrictive categories.
  eg. The feminist movement challenging traditional gender roles and redefining societal norms.

Question 4

What is Identity as Strategy?

Answer 4

strategic deployment of identities to achieve cultural or instrumental goals.

Question 5

What are the two types of Identity as Strategy?

Answer 5

1. Identity for Critique: Challenges dominant cultural values or norms.
2. Identity for Education: Emphasizes uncontroversial themes to convey legitimacy and influence perceptions.

Question 6

What determines activist strategy selection?

Answer 6

Political access, opposition, and movement structure.

Question 7

What are the two categories of movements based on strategy?

Answer 7

• Instrumental Movements: Externally oriented, focused on policy change.
• Expressive Movements: Internally oriented, emphasizing identity creation and cultural transformation.

Question 8

How did the Civil Rights Movement use identity over time?

Answer 8

• Early stages focused on similarities (Identity for Education) to advocate policy change.
• Black Power later shifted focus to celebrating differences (Identity for Critique) to build community and challenge cultural norms.

Question 9

How did the Feminist Movement use identity strategies?

Answer 9

Liberal feminism: Highlighted similarities to men for policy reform.
Radical feminism: Emphasized differences to redefine cultural values and challenge male dominance.

Question 10

What are some challenges that activist movements face?

Answer 10

• State Repression: Governments may use legal, political, or violent means to suppress movements.
• Lack of Resources: Insufficient funding, leadership conflicts, and poor strategic planning.
• Internal Divisions: Ideological splits or leadership disputes can weaken a movement’s effectiveness.