Module 3 Overview: Social Movements and Identity

Reproductive_Rights_Rally_(52169657882).jpeg

"Reproductive Rights Rally" by Janine and Jim Eden is licensed by CCBY 2.0

Now that we've explored how groups shape social movements, we'll move toward another essential factor in the shaping of social movements: identity. We'll mostly be viewing identity in terms of personal identity and how particularly activist identities shape participation in social movements as well as how personal and collective identities impact one another. 

We'll take a similar flow for this unit. First, we'll look at what communication scholars have to say about social movements and identity and then move to look at two case studies the reproductive rights movement and the environmental justice movement. 

And here is this unit's PowerPoint!

Unit Objectives

  1. Understand how personal identity shapes social movements
  2. Recognize how navigating personal identities within movements can maintain or derail social movements
  3. Reflect on personal identity in relation to past and future participation in social movements

Weekly Materials and Assignments

Week 6 

Weekly Topic: Social Movements and Identity

This week we'll be focusing on how scholars treat identity and social movements. 

Focus your reading on the literature reviews, which contain content about activist identities. Pick two readings to read in their entirety and skim the remaining three articles.

Read & View

Assignments

  • Reading Response # 4
    • due Sunday
  • Weekly Discussion: 
    • initial post by Wednesday
    • replies to peers on 2 days across Thurs - Sun

Week 7 

Weekly Topic: Reproductive Rights Movement & Identity

This week we'll be focusing on how identity impacts and informs the reproductive rights movement. Many of you mentioned in the first week that reproductive rights were one of the issues you were most passionate about. I hope you enjoy learning more deeply about this movement.

Read & View

First, watch this five-minute video about the history of the reproductive rights movement in the U.S.

Next, learn more about how the reproductive rights movement has had adverse effects on non-white women with this video.

Read this Vox article that details even more about Black women and reproductive rights.

Next, read the following articles about the movement. Focus on how identity is implicated and guides the movement.

Assignments

  • Reading Response # 5
    • due Sunday
  • Weekly Discussion: 
    • initial post by Wednesday
    • replies to peers on 2 days across Thurs - Sun

Week 8 

Weekly Topic: Environmental Racism and Identity

Congratulations, you've made it to week 8! We're well through the semester, so take time this week to breathe and do something that nourishes you. We're almost at the home stretch!

This week we'll be focusing on Environmental Racism and how it connects to identity. First, take a look at this video that briefly describes Environmental racism.

 

Read & View

Now, we'll view and read a few pieces of media about a current Environmental Racism crisis: the water crisis in Jackson Mississippi. Here is a 7-minute video that gives an overview of the crisis.

Second, here's an article about some of the community's responses to the water crisis.

Last, here is an example of a movement response to the crisis by the NAACP.

Another important example of environmental racism is the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Read this article for an overview of the environmental implications of the pipeline for the Standing Rock Sioux. 

Assignments

  • Weekly Discussion: 
    • initial post by Wednesday
    • replies to peers on 2 days across Thurs - Sun
  • UNIT ASSIGNMENT DUE 
    • due Sunday

Social Movements © 2023 by Emily Loker is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 unless otherwise noted