Political Participation and Feminist Consciousness Among Women Activists of the 1960s

Abstract

This paper examined the hypothesis that women who took part in student movements of the 1960s would be distinguishable from their contemporaries in terms of political ideology, political behavior, and feminism in middle age. Women who had been identified as student activists in public records during the late 1960s and early 1970s were compared to a sample of nonactivist peers. Although the two groups scored similarly on variables related to work and family arrangements, former activists scored higher on measures of leftist political orientation and political efficacy, reported greater political salience and collectivism, and reported greater current political participation. Although both groups reported high levels of feminist consciousness and identity, activists scored significantly higher. The difficulty of politically mobilizing women to combat gender discrimination is discussed in light of the discrepancy between consciousness and activism in the comparison group.

Predictors of Change in Feminist Activism Through Women’s and Gender Studies

“…The type, strength, and saliency of social attitudes have been consistently related to the nature and extent of people's activist behaviors (Cole et al 1998;Jasper and Paulson 1995;Kaysen and Stake 2001). In regard to feminist causes, those who profess more liberal, less conservative gender attitudes and those who self-identify as feminists are more likely to believe in collective action for feminist causes (Liss et al 2004;Petkova et al 1995;Reid and Purcell 2004) and to report that they participate in feminist activism (Dauphinais et al 1992;Zucker 2004).…”

“…Research evidence does not suggest that activists are more anxious, alienated, or emotionally disturbed than non-activists (Abramowitz 1973;Hirsch 1990;Kelly and Breinlinger 1995;Klandermans 1984). Instead, participants in political action have been distinguished by a strong belief that they can, working in concert with others, effect meaningful social and political change (Cole et al 1998;Edwards and Oskamp 1992;Fiske 1987). For example, members of antinuclear groups who took an active part in the anti-war movement believed that they personally could contribute to the effort to reduce the chances of a nuclear war.…”

“…WGS teachers have deemed it especially important that college students be encouraged toward activism because students are typically the most likely group to engage in feminist and other types of activism (Kaysen and Stake 2001;Sherkat and Blocker 1994). Moreover, promoting student activism during the undergraduate years has the potential for long-range dividends because students who have participated in activism in college have continued to be more politically active in later life stages (Cole et al 1998). It is therefore particularly concerning that college women in recent years have tended to disavow feminism and to be disengaged more generally from activist movements (Liss et al 2004;Naples and Bojar 2002).…”

Fear of the nuclear threat

“…aber Denny und Doyle 2007). Zwar gibt es weltweit eine ganze reihe von langfristigen längsschnitt-studien zum Thema "Politik", doch beschäftigen sich diese Studien für gewöhnlich mit Fragen der stabilität und des Wandels von politischen einstellungen und zum Beispiel Wahlverhalten (Hart et al 2007;Cole et al 1998). eine studie von Fendrich und lovoy (1988) liefert ein paradigmatisches Beispiel für derartige studien.…”

“…Dies legt die Annahme nahe, dass Beunruhigung über die "Welt da draußen" sich über die Lebensspanne aus sich selbst heraus speist. Cole et al (1998) berichten ein ähnliches ergebnis für feministische Aktivistinnen. Im kern besagt Hypothese 4, dass politisch engagierte Jugendliche sich frühzeitig auf eine Aktivistenidentität festlegen, der sie nachfolgend immer wieder gerecht werden wollen und müssen (vgl.…”