Untangling processes in the diffusion of innovative practices: slutWalks, gender equity strategies, and Covid 19 vaccines

Abstract

Technologies, health treatments, ideas or behaviors can all be innovative practices that bring societal changes if they are largely adopted by individuals, states, or organizations.Grounded in the theory of the diffusion of innovation, this dissertation aims at uncovering some of the factors explaining the diffusion of three innovative practices: the feminist rallies named SlutWalks, gender equity strategies for the STEM academia workforce and the Covid-19 vaccines. The first paper addresses how the historical capacity for activism and social media served as vectors of diffusion for feminist rallies, SlutWalks, in 293 US cities between 2011 and 2014. Using event history analysis and logistic models, I find that cities with a Student for Democratic Society chapter in the 1960s were more likely to have a SlutWalk. I argue that cities imitate each other because they share a cultural identity based on a similar historical capacity for activism. The second paper investigates the role of social status and homophily in the collaboration and diffusion of gender equity practices among ADVANCE awarded universities.ADVANCE is an NSF program that awards universities to create and apply gender equity practices in the STEM workforce. Using 97 abstracts from the awarded proposals, I built up two networks: 1) collaborative ties between 205 universities and 2) ties based on imitation of practices between 65 universities. I demonstrate via network analysis that universities with a higher Carnegie classification hold a central position in the network and are more likely to be innovators and imitated by other universities. Collaborative universities are also highly homophile along status lines, and less so based on geography. I argue that while high status organizations remain highly influential for future diffusion of practices, the ADVANCE program has fostered increasing participation and collaboration from lower status universities such as colleges and minority serving institutions. rigorous feedback and advice at the early and final stages of this dissertation. I am also grateful to Laura Nelson and Kathrin Zippel for helping me define the dissertation topic by incorporating me into their projects. Laura Nelson helped me build up my first paper, let me use her data on SlutWalk and social media and provided me with strong feedback and recommendations on the project. Kathrin Zippel allowed me as well to use data from her NSF ADVANCE project and gave me guidance based on her strong expertise on the subject. I also would like to extend my thanks to the Sociology Department at Northeastern in general and to my graduate cohort who made my early days in the program more enjoyable. Particularly, many thanks to Pam Simmons for her warm encouragement. This work would not have been possible without the love and support from my family and friends. Thank you to my dear friend Sarah Detzner who helped me with the editing and proofreading of the text and for her constant support. Thank you for all my friends from the United States and France w...