Social Movements: Analyzing Factors Affecting Movement Participation among College Students

Presenter and Advisor Information

Lisa Cheng, Illinois Wesleyan University

Submission Type

Event

Faculty Advisor

Meghan Burke

Expected Graduation Date

2019

Location

Room E101, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University

Start Date

4-13-2019 11:00 AM

End Date

4-13-2019 12:00 PM

Disciplines

Education

Abstract

As the prevalence of social justice efforts and social movements has risen in today’s political climate, activist groups are always searching for more participation. Because youth participation is crucial to the functioning of social movements, the aim of the current paper is to analyze the factors affecting attitudes and perceptions of social movements among young adults. I draw on survey data collected from students at a small, Midwestern liberal arts university to analyze the factors that may influence movement participation. I find that social movements that focus on issues such as human rights, women’s rights, environmental justice, and equality for marginalized groups most strongly compel student participation. In addition, students were motivated to join social movements based on their beliefs and personal experiences. Social frame theory, social identity theory, and the impact of social media inform my analysis and the implications for my findings.

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Apr 13th, 11:00 AM Apr 13th, 12:00 PM

Social Movements: Analyzing Factors Affecting Movement Participation among College Students

Room E101, Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University

As the prevalence of social justice efforts and social movements has risen in today’s political climate, activist groups are always searching for more participation. Because youth participation is crucial to the functioning of social movements, the aim of the current paper is to analyze the factors affecting attitudes and perceptions of social movements among young adults. I draw on survey data collected from students at a small, Midwestern liberal arts university to analyze the factors that may influence movement participation. I find that social movements that focus on issues such as human rights, women’s rights, environmental justice, and equality for marginalized groups most strongly compel student participation. In addition, students were motivated to join social movements based on their beliefs and personal experiences. Social frame theory, social identity theory, and the impact of social media inform my analysis and the implications for my findings.