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Social Movement
RESEARCH DATA
Social movements are purposeful, organized groups, either with the goal of pushing toward change, giving political voice to those without it, or gathering for some other common purpose. Social movements intersect with environ- mental changes, technological innovations, and other external factors to create social change. There are myriad catalysts that create social move- ments, and the reasons that people join are as varied as the participants themselves. Sociologists look at both the macro- and microanalytical reasons that social movements occur, take root, and ultimately succeed or fail.
How Social Change Happens
Progressive social change is profoundly democratic. At its best, people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, different sexual orientations, differ- ent abilities and a wide range of ages participate in developing creative solu- tions to social problems.
Money alone does not bring about change, neither do individuals. But when individuals band together and form organisations to focus on their collective power, social change can happen. When a large number of organisations work together toward a common goal, thatʼs a movement. Movements make change.
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