*Key
aspect: How does/did your chosen social movement attempt to promote engaged
participation and develop leadership? (W12)
One of the
biggest struggles with any social movement is the active participation of
members and the promotion necessary to help engage individuals with the cause
in order to further the development of success. Tilly has stated “Social
movement organizations that rely on the subscriptions of members without
involving them in decision - making or action are at one end of the continuum”
(Tilly 89).
This topic
targets different groups such as creating awareness for the general public and
engaging employers employees from third world countries being oppressed/
exploited by unfair wages an opportunity to assist with a greater benefit of
fairer wages. Such tactics of cooperation include the uses of raising
educational awareness and public interest by promoting the cause through
different outlets that will help audiences understand the current circumstances
of unfair labor within third world countries. A vast majority of networks using
different techniques for promotional purposes can be released through the word
of mouth and social media. Such information provides a better understanding of
current situations, which creates an emotional response for individuals.
*Key
aspect: How do/did emotions and collective identity formation influence your chosen
social movement? (WEEK 11)
Since Fair Trade issues do not directly address any citizens within
developed countries, having sympathy and emotional responses for this cause is
very important. Through the engagement of individuals who feel an emotional
connection to the topic through sympathy or through the wanting to help; having
an emotional response to an issue creates an attachment for individuals.
Participation form people tend to bring a sense of good for believing
they have helped out. This positive response will create an illusion that
individuals are affecting a positive impact for workers from third world
countries. By doing so, this act creates a collective community that believes
in the same stance as others who have participated. The initial response of
grief for oppressed workers will turn into a positive response when individuals
participate in the initiative.
Similarily to
the question presented above, as stated by Blee and McDowell:
“Social
movements might want audiences to retreat in fear, change their behavior or
attitudes, or stage an alternative or counter performance. Put another way,
social movement performances are strategic as well as evocative.” (Blee and
McDowell 2)
Which means
creating an emotional response creates an impact for the audience and has a
guilt factor into pushing individuals to participate and get involved through sympathy.
Through the analysis of this social movement, I have come to an understanding
that emotional response is a very powerful tactic to ensure that participation
from members is active. Even with individuals who are not involved, by
displaying tragic images from their promotional sources and telling horror
stories from workers from third world countries really touches upon people’s
emotional response to help even though it may not directly affect them.
Blee, H and
McDowell, A. 2012. Sociological Forum: Social
Movement Audiences. Eastern Sociological Society. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
