Module: Making Sense of Society
Seminar 10: Activism and Transformative Sociology
Outline
Look at how sociology can be associated with movements.
How sociology can lead you to make big changes in the future depending on
the route you take.
Activity 1: The lecture for this week
What did you take away from the lecture?
Media has helped with social movements but has also led to ‘slacktivism’.
What do you understand as ‘slacktivism’?
There was ‘slacktivism’ in the BLM movement where we saw a lot of people just
posting the black square (the blackout movement) on their social media accounts to
show their support but other than that, they were not really doing much. There has
been a lot of criticism on this as it was not seen as really doing anything.
‘Slacktivism’ shows the differences when a social movement occurs online and in
person.
How can we be a part of a social movement?
Think about any causes that you are involved in or care about.
Example: going on a pride march could be seen as a sign of activism.
How is going on a pride march a form of activism?
Because you are being a visible part of a social movement which can be a very
important way of saying to society and decision makers and law makers that there
are a large number of people who support the LGBTQ+ community, so that decision-
makers take them into consideration when making important decisions. It is power in
numbers.
When online petitions gain over a certain number of signatures, the UK government
has to look at the issue by law.
Research can bring about change.
Seminar 10: Activism and Transformative Sociology
Outline
Look at how sociology can be associated with movements.
How sociology can lead you to make big changes in the future depending on
the route you take.
Activity 1: The lecture for this week
What did you take away from the lecture?
Media has helped with social movements but has also led to ‘slacktivism’.
What do you understand as ‘slacktivism’?
There was ‘slacktivism’ in the BLM movement where we saw a lot of people just
posting the black square (the blackout movement) on their social media accounts to
show their support but other than that, they were not really doing much. There has
been a lot of criticism on this as it was not seen as really doing anything.
‘Slacktivism’ shows the differences when a social movement occurs online and in
person.
How can we be a part of a social movement?
Think about any causes that you are involved in or care about.
Example: going on a pride march could be seen as a sign of activism.
How is going on a pride march a form of activism?
Because you are being a visible part of a social movement which can be a very
important way of saying to society and decision makers and law makers that there
are a large number of people who support the LGBTQ+ community, so that decision-
makers take them into consideration when making important decisions. It is power in
numbers.
When online petitions gain over a certain number of signatures, the UK government
has to look at the issue by law.
Research can bring about change.
