Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Social Movements
Social Movements
• scope
o reform movements - movements dedicated to changing some norms, usually legal
ones. Examples of such a movement would include a trade union with a goal of
increasing workers rights, a green movement advocating a set of ecological laws, or
a movement supporting introduction of a capital punishment or right to abortion.
Some reform movements may advocate a change in custom and moral norms, for
example, condemnation of pornography or proliferation of some religion. The
nature of such movements is not just related to the issue but also to the methods
used. There could be reformist or radical methods used to achieve the same end,
such as in the case of making abortion legal and readily available.
Animal rights movement: Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the
interests of animals, such as the interest in avoiding suffering, should be afforded the same
consideration as the interests of human beings.[1] Although animal rights advocates approach the
issue from different philosophical positions, they argue, broadly speaking, that animals should no
longer be regarded as property, or used as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment, but
should instead be regarded as legal persons and members of the moral community.
Opposition to economic materialism comes primarily from two sources: religion and social activism.
Some religions assert materialism interferes with connection between the individual and the
divine, or that it is inherently an immoral lifestyle.
Some notable individuals, such as Francis of Assisi and Mohandas Gandhi claimed spiritual
inspiration led them to a simple lifestyle. Social activists believe materialism is connected to war,
crime, and general social malaise. Fundamentally, their concern is that materialism is unable to
offer a raison d'être for human existence.
"Keeping up with the Joneses" is a popular catchphrase in many parts of the English-speaking
world. It refers to the desire to be seen as being as good as one's neighbours or contemporaries
using the comparative benchmarks of social caste or the accumulation of material goods. To fail to
"keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as demonstrating socio-economic or cultural inferiority.
Social effects
The philosophy of "keeping up with the Joneses" has widespread effects on society. According to
this philosophy, conspicuous consumption occurs when "households care about their relative
standard of living" in relation to their societal peers.
According to Roger Mason, "the demand for status goods, fueled by conspicuous consumption, has
diverted many resources away from investment in the manufacture of more material goods and
services in order to satisfy consumer preoccupations with their relative social standing and
prestige.”
Anti-war movement: The term anti-war usually refers to the opposition to a particular nation's
decision to start or carry on an armed conflict. The term can also refers to pacifism, which is the
opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many activists distinguish between anti-war
movements and peace movements. Anti-war activists work through protest and other grassroots
means to attempt to pressure a government (or governments) to put and end to a particular war or
conflict.
For example, the philosopher John Locke (1632–1704) argued that the natural rights of life, liberty
and property should be converted into civil rights and protected by the sovereign state as an aspect
of the social contract. Others have argued that people acquire rights as an inalienable gift from a
deity (such as God) or at a time of nature before governments were formed.
1. Mahatma Gandhi
3. Rosa Parks
4. Nelson Mandela
5. Steve Biko
6. Desmund Tutu