The Makings of Social Change
Social change arises when people begin to see a problem in the way our society is set up or run. People do things like protest in order to try to change society, sometimes succeeding like with the civil rights movement or Vietnam War. With the invention of social media it has become less of a danger to be involved in social change and it is easier for massive groups to organize, and get their message out there. In the essay “AIDS, Inc.” Helen Epstein talks about trying to use lifestyle brands in order to cause social change, and how it is inefficient compared to directly speaking about it in the context of AIDS awareness. In Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” he talks about how he made a video series to help give LGBT …show more content…
Bullying happens to people for many reasons, they seem different, weak, the bully takes out their problems on them, or just enjoys hurting people. Making something that is seen as weird accepted could stop bullying of that group in the long run, but change like that takes many years. “It won’t solve the problem of anti-gay bullying. Everywhere, all at once, forever, overnight.” (Savage, 429). Bullying is just something that happens while LGBT bullying is a big issue anyone can be bullied. Perceiving someone as different or the enemy is not the only reason to attack someone, people will always be bullied for sometimes no reason. “Social cohesion – the tendency of people to talk openly with one another and form trusted relationships. Perhaps this may have facilitated more realistic and open discussion of AIDS, more compassionate attitudes towards infected people, and pragmatic behavior change.” (Epstein, 158). If being LGBT became perceived by the mass majority as completely normal and there were no related issues some people would still be bullied. Bullying takes many forms more general people only do it through exclusion and strange looks. More troubled individuals are the ones that do actual physical aggression and they could target someone for any reason, people that are already perceived as completely normal are still bullied …show more content…
A movement requires strong leadership from certain individuals like Martin Luther King and Gandhi. Individuals also give inspiration to a movement and the people in it, anyone can become a hero inspiring others. “What I found in social movements was a whole life that has given me hope, inspiration, and friendships, and my lover, Kate, whom I met at a queer conference.” (Vaid, 431). Social movements inspire individuals who then participate in the movement to help cause the change they want to see. Every member of a group is an individual with their own experiences and hardships, which can be shared to inspire and educate others. “Once I visited the loveLife Y-center, the woman continued, but I just saw children playing. I sat and talked with them, and they were shocked when I said I was HIV positive, I told them about what it was like, and one of them said she would ask the managers whether I could come and talk to a bigger group.. But that was about six months ago and they haven’t called me.” (Epstein, 157). An old woman like this could be an important part of the social movement if allowed to participate. A person who has many first hand experiences with a social movements subjects could educate and inspire many people with their wisdom. “And LGBT adults who made videos for the project weren’t just talking at LGBT youth. The kids who watched
Social change arises when people begin to see a problem in the way our society is set up or run. People do things like protest in order to try to change society, sometimes succeeding like with the civil rights movement or Vietnam War. With the invention of social media it has become less of a danger to be involved in social change and it is easier for massive groups to organize, and get their message out there. In the essay “AIDS, Inc.” Helen Epstein talks about trying to use lifestyle brands in order to cause social change, and how it is inefficient compared to directly speaking about it in the context of AIDS awareness. In Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” he talks about how he made a video series to help give LGBT …show more content…
Bullying happens to people for many reasons, they seem different, weak, the bully takes out their problems on them, or just enjoys hurting people. Making something that is seen as weird accepted could stop bullying of that group in the long run, but change like that takes many years. “It won’t solve the problem of anti-gay bullying. Everywhere, all at once, forever, overnight.” (Savage, 429). Bullying is just something that happens while LGBT bullying is a big issue anyone can be bullied. Perceiving someone as different or the enemy is not the only reason to attack someone, people will always be bullied for sometimes no reason. “Social cohesion – the tendency of people to talk openly with one another and form trusted relationships. Perhaps this may have facilitated more realistic and open discussion of AIDS, more compassionate attitudes towards infected people, and pragmatic behavior change.” (Epstein, 158). If being LGBT became perceived by the mass majority as completely normal and there were no related issues some people would still be bullied. Bullying takes many forms more general people only do it through exclusion and strange looks. More troubled individuals are the ones that do actual physical aggression and they could target someone for any reason, people that are already perceived as completely normal are still bullied …show more content…
A movement requires strong leadership from certain individuals like Martin Luther King and Gandhi. Individuals also give inspiration to a movement and the people in it, anyone can become a hero inspiring others. “What I found in social movements was a whole life that has given me hope, inspiration, and friendships, and my lover, Kate, whom I met at a queer conference.” (Vaid, 431). Social movements inspire individuals who then participate in the movement to help cause the change they want to see. Every member of a group is an individual with their own experiences and hardships, which can be shared to inspire and educate others. “Once I visited the loveLife Y-center, the woman continued, but I just saw children playing. I sat and talked with them, and they were shocked when I said I was HIV positive, I told them about what it was like, and one of them said she would ask the managers whether I could come and talk to a bigger group.. But that was about six months ago and they haven’t called me.” (Epstein, 157). An old woman like this could be an important part of the social movement if allowed to participate. A person who has many first hand experiences with a social movements subjects could educate and inspire many people with their wisdom. “And LGBT adults who made videos for the project weren’t just talking at LGBT youth. The kids who watched