Activism is any intentional effort to change society, politics, the economy, culture, the environment and so on. While most people use activism and social activism interchangeably, social activism refers to activism focused on social issues, like gender equality, racial justice, human rights and much more. In this article, we\u2019ll dig into several forms of social activism, the kinds of issues social activists focus on and real-world examples of social activism.<\/p>\n
Social activism refers to efforts that address social issues like gender equality, racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, child welfare and more. Activism includes marches, strikes, letter-writing campaigns, boycotts and community organizing.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n There\u2019s more than one way to get involved in social activism. A person\u2019s interests, abilities and opportunities vary, which can affect which forms of activism they engage with. Here are seven of the main efforts:<\/p>\n Marches are public demonstrations where people gather and walk to draw awareness of a social justice issue. Marches often include signs, banners, music, speeches and other elements that advocate for the group\u2019s message.<\/p>\n Workers and employers often negotiate wages and benefits, but if negotiations stall, workers may go on strike and not return to work. Labor unions often organize strikes, while supporters can help by donating funds, protesting with workers and pressuring the company to meet the worker\u2019s demands.<\/p>\n During sit-ins, people occupy a space and refuse to leave until certain demands are met or until a designated time. Protesters may sit in a business, a government building, a park or other areas. Die-ins are similar but involve participants pretending to be dead. Sit-ins and die-ins draw attention to social issues like human rights violations, public health crises, state violence and so on.<\/p>\n Individuals and activist groups use petitions and letters to raise awareness of an issue and express their concerns and requests to governments and other relevant parties. Petitions require signatures from supporters, while letters can either be pre-written and signed, or crafted by individuals.<\/p>\n When a company or country engages in unethical or harmful practices, activists may call for a boycott. Supporters refrain from buying or using products from that company or country. The hope is that a boycott\u2019s financial pressure will force the company\/country to change its practices.<\/p>\n Digital activism involves the use of technologies like social media, email, online videos, digital investigations and more for social activism efforts. Digital activism is a newer form of activism with many pros (it can mobilize supporters from around the world) and cons (it can encourage passivity).<\/p>\n Community organizing empowers and mobilizes community members to take direct action on social issues. Things like neighborhood associations, tenant unions, labor unions, mutual aid organizations and art and culture collectives all count as community organizing. Community organizers seek to address inequalities, improve people\u2019s well-being and bridge divides within communities.<\/p>\n Interested in learning more about activism\u2019s different forms? Check out our article on <\/em>13 types of activism<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n Social activism encompasses a huge variety of concerns in the political, economic, cultural and religious spheres. Anything that impacts individuals, communities and society as a whole can be considered a \u201csocial issue.\u201d Here are seven examples:<\/p>\n Gender equality is achieved when all genders get equal rights, opportunities and treatment. Gender discrimination holds society back from equality, so social activists work on ensuring everyone gets access to public resources, education, healthcare and everything else they deserve.<\/p>\n While \u201crace\u201d is not a genetic reality<\/a>, people\u2019s access to privileges, opportunities and equal treatment are still affected by their race. Activists seek to end racial discrimination in all its forms, including racial injustice in policing, housing, healthcare, employment and more.<\/p>\n The state of the environment has a major impact on the well-being of humans as well as animals and plants. Environmental justice focuses on this impact, which tends to affect marginalized communities the most. Environmental justice activists address issues like indigenous land rights, the disposal of hazardous waste, air pollution and more.<\/p>\n LGBTQ+ rights are human rights with a focus on members of the LGBTQ+ community. Activists work to end discrimination and ensure equal treatment, which includes the legal recognition of same-sex relationships, employment and legal protections, healthcare protections and the right to safety.<\/p>\n Child welfare focuses on children\u2019s rights, including the right to education, healthcare and safety. Social activists focused on child welfare advocate for services and programs that empower and protect kids\u2019 well-being, as well as the well-being of their families.<\/p>\n Public health refers to efforts to promote and protect the health of communities. It\u2019s an organized effort between all sectors of society, like researchers, governments, healthcare organizations, community groups and others. Activists work to improve healthcare access, address health disparities and empower communities.<\/p>\n Everyone has a right to safe, decent housing, but affordability is a persistent issue. When social activists address housing affordability, they focus on issues like costs, housing shortages, discriminatory policies, unsafe building practices, income inequality and so on.<\/p>\n To learn more about social issues, check out our article on <\/em>40 top-rated social issues courses<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n There are countless examples of social activism throughout history, and while many are famous, there are just as many smaller acts that never get recorded in history books. While we\u2019re going to focus on more well-known case studies, it\u2019s important to recognize that social activism happens every day:<\/p>\n Marches have been an effective strategy for many years. One of the most famous occurred in 1930, but the roots began in 1882. The British government, which controlled India, made it illegal for Indians to collect or sell their own salt. This forced Indians to buy from the British, who charged a high tax. Decades after this unjust law, Mahatma Gandhi and allies organized the \u201csatyagraha,\u201d<\/a> a series of non-violent actions. In 1930, he and his followers walked for 24 days to the sea, speaking to thousands of people and encouraging others to join his march. The Salt March represented a powerful act of resistance, and in 1947, India gained independence from Great Britain.<\/p>\n On October 24, 1975, 90% of the women in Iceland went on strike. It wasn\u2019t just a strike from work; women also went on strike from house chores and childcare. The event was called \u201cWomen\u2019s Day Off.\u201d<\/a> Thousands of women went into the streets calling for equal rights with men. Banks, factories, schools, nurseries and stores had to close, while men were forced to experience just how important the women in their lives were. Five years later, Iceland elected its first female president. Progress continued with more women in politics and more progressive policies. Today, Iceland is the world\u2019s most gender-equal country<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 1960, four Black college students tried to buy a hot dog at a lunch counter in North Carolina, but they were refused service because the counter was \u201cwhites only.\u201d They came back and sat at the counter until the store closed. Soon, more students joined the protest, and the sit-in movement<\/a> began. It spread across the segregated South, and soon, stores began to change their segregation policies. In 1964, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation in businesses.<\/p>\n Apartheid was a formalized system of racial segregation in South Africa beginning in 1948. Social movements against apartheid soon arose within South Africa and then spread internationally. Supporters of the anti-apartheid movement often wrote petitions and letters. The Anti-Apartheid Movement in England wrote to their government<\/a> calling for policy changes, support of Nelson Mandela and other interventions. In Michigan, USA, many students and faculty wrote letters<\/a> to the University of Michigan urging the school to divest. Apartheid ended in 1990.<\/p>\n In the 1970s, Nestle, a massive Swiss-based food corporation, marketed its formula to women in the Global South as the most nutritious option for their children. However, as Corporate Accountability describes, mothers in these areas didn\u2019t always have the proper sterilization tools or clean water<\/a> that ensured the formula\u2019s safety. By not considering these factors and pushing the product, Nestle engaged in unethical marketing practices. In 1977, activists and church groups organized a boycott of infant formula makers, especially Nestle. It went on for 6 \u00bd years until Nestle finally agreed to comply<\/a> with the World Health Organization\u2019s infant formula sales code. Boycotts against Nestle have continued<\/a> over its formula, as well as its practices regarding palm oil, cocoa, water extraction and human rights violations.<\/p>\n Activists use social media to post videos, share graphics, and educate followers on every conceivable social issue. People with advanced technological expertise can also harness their skills for digital activism. Watchdog group Citizen Lab conducted investigations into customers of the NSO Group, an Israeli cyber-intelligence firm. Citizen\u2019s Lab reports found NSO Group-created spyware on the devices<\/a> of human rights activists and journalists across the globe. Without this digital activism, it would be impossible to know what human rights abuses occur thanks to technology.<\/p>\nWhat are the forms of social activism?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Marches<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Strikes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sit-ins<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Petitions and letters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Boycotts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Digital activism <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Community organizing<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What issues do social activists focus on? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Gender equality <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Racial equality <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Environmental justice<\/strong><\/h3>\n
LGBTQ+ rights<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Child welfare<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Public health<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Housing affordability<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What does social activism look like in the real world? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Marches<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Strikes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sit-ins<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Petitions and letters\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Boycotts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Digital activism<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Community organizing<\/strong><\/h3>\n