Gender Performativity Post-structuralist feminist philosopher Judith Butler first used the term gender performativity in her work Gender Trouble (1990). Butler states that gender, which is a socially constructed idea, is a continuous performance of the mythical notions of what constitutes male and female gender identities. Butler points out that “the body is only known through…
Biopower and Biopolitics The French philosopher, social theorist and historian Michel Foucault, is concerned with how modern society is controlled, subjugated and regulated through “biopower”. Biopower is a complex social theory that examines the strategies and mechanisms by which society is organized and managed through an authoritative regime of power, knowledge, and systems of subjugation.…
What is Intersectionality? Intersectionality is a concept coined by law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. It is commonly used in critical theory to illustrate how different forms of discriminationatory and oppressive institutions (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ageism, ableism, xenophobia, etc..) are interconnected and and cannot be analyzed and examined in vacuum of…
Check out this interesting article about what messages our opponents use. They really know no limits. This is definitely “going too far”. But beyond outrage, what messaging can we oppose to this fear-mongering tactics. Research shows that upfront combatting this argument would just make things worse. Campaigns would be better off engaging the voters on…
Your campaign objectives should be: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-Bound This will help you set clear targets that can become a reality, focus your campaign team around agreed upon goals and objectives, remain on target throughout your work, stick to set deadlines, continuously assess your progress, and utilize all your resources. Specific …
Non-violent action (or nonviolent resistance, NVR) relies on achieving campaign objectives and goals through tactics such as symbolic/nonviolent protests, civil disobedience, political and/or economic noncooperation without resorting to violent methods. Organizations and movements that have been successful in nonviolent actions and strategies have come to the realization that ‘if people do not obey, rulers cannot…
Identify the Problem – Be Specific! While organizing, it’s easy to get lost in all the ways varying aspects intersect with the broader cause we are trying to work for and change. An essential process before implementing any action is identifying an issue or problem that can be tied to the broader frameworks of our…
Excellent article from the Advocate Storming the Stage: A History of Disruptions to Advance Our Rights The protester who interrupted President Obama in June was part of a long history of direct action in the LGBT movement. Jennicet Gutiérrez, a transgender woman and undocumented immigrant, received both praise and condemnation for interrupting President Obama’s speech at…
An important contribution to strategizing movement building! We’re talking more and more about creating a “big tent”, intersectional organizing or building a “movement of movements”. But how useful is it? From the always excellent wagingnonviolence.org Earlier this summer I helped to organize the March for Jobs, Justice & the Climate — an action that brought…
Social Media is a fundamental building bloc of your campaign. But are you using the right tools? And are you using them well? And how are you performing?