*KEY ASPECTS

*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.