In this chapter we have learned about activists, social issues, progressive movements, regressive movements, and groups of individuals gathering to speak their minds. There is good and bad in these group gatherings, such as bringing attention to social issues that need to be addressed, but also mob mentality and groupthink. One example that takes a look at all of these things is the Women’s March.
The Women’s march movement is fairly new and growing rapidly. In class this week we went over social change and activists movements and the first one that came to mind was the women’s march. “There were a total of 653 marches in the United States alone, with approximately 800,000-1.2 million participants in D.C., and approximately 3 million total marchers in the nation. Marches took place in every U.S. state and on all seven continents”(womensmarch.com). This moment is only 2 years old and on all 7 continents. Although it can be argued whether or not this is positive social change, it is unarguably a progressive social movement. Fighting for a future full of equal opportunity for women, amongst so many other things. Activist have been fighting for social change since the beginning of our country. Which is what makes the United States the country it is. We have the freedom to speak about what we are passionate about, what we want to change, inequalities we see and want to change. This freedom is what our country was built on and what keeps us going. I’m not saying its flawless or gives everyone an equal voice but it has given us space to speak about what we want.
The women’s march took this freedom and used it to bring light to many social issues. Such as, ending violence, women’s reproductive rights, LGBTQIA rights, workers rights, civil rights, disability rights, immigrant rights, and environmental justice. This movement is actually catching fire and making a difference. You can’t easily silence 3 million people marching to make a difference. The women’s march has inspired me to research these topics and learn about how these are real social issues that need to be addressed by our government.
This is probably one of the best examples of citizens peacefully using their right to free speech and freedom to peacefully protest for good. I love watching citizens do what this country was built on. Rebel. And women are not to be silenced. So we are speaking up and this movement will only grow stronger.
Maggie Fredricks
Word count: 415
sociology 107 