As you started in activism, did you struggle with understanding terms like social change and social justice? Just as in many fields, activism has its own terminology. Knowing these social change definitions can help you get started in your activism work. Here is a guide to help you understand social change definitions.
The first section covers terms associated with social change.
The second section covers activism-related terms.
I’ve also added links to resources to assist you if you want to explore the terms.
A social movement is a long-term campaign focused on social change. Examples of social movements are Black Lives Matter and feminism.
Social action
Social action is like social change. For example, social action is community organizing around a local issue, such as helping the unhoused.
Activism-Related Terms
Like social change definitions, activism-related terms can be confusing. Here is your guide.
Activist
An activist is someone who influences people to change their behavior in support of a cause. A volunteer helps people, but an activist brings about change.
Activism is taking action to bring about social change by influencing people to change their behavior. Instead of just educating someone about an issue, you encourage action. It can take many forms, including lobbying and advocacy.
Community activism is similar to social action. A group of people work together to tackle local issues. That might look like a community effort to help refugees in your county.
Advocacy
Advocacy is speaking up and educating others in support of a cause. An example of advocacy is helping others become aware of how to be an ally for those with a disability.
Altruism is working to help others. The underlying philosophy is a consideration of others, even at the expense of personal welfare. For example, altruism might look like donating part of your paycheck to the cause closest to your heart. Or escorting women needing Planned Parenthood services through potentially dangerous protests.
Solidarity
Solidarity is when people support a cause together. The more united people are, the likelier they are to make a difference. This might look like many people who support a cause working together. Also, it can include supporting the causes of others.
Resistance
Resistance is opposing unjust actions and policies. For example, Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. promoted nonviolent resistance by avoiding physical force in their opposition. Instead, they used nonviolent resistance methods such as sit-ins.
Privilege is a system that gives unearned advantages, favors, and benefits to members of dominant groups at the expense of members of target groups, and it operates on personal, interpersonal, cultural, and institutional levels. In the United States, privilege is often granted to people who are members of particular identity groups, such as: White people, Able-bodied people, Heterosexuals, Males, Christians, Middle and upper-class people, Middle-aged people, and English-speaking people. -Miami University
In activism, understanding privilege means interacting with others in a way that honors those who don’t hold privilege. Those who don’t have privilege have been fighting injustice for a long time and deserve to have their voice heard before yours.
Intersectionality is a way to understand the complexity of people’s experiences and how the systems in which we live impact us. For example, a disabled person may also be low-income, gay, and a person of color.
Learn more in this short video:
Oppression
Oppression is mistreating a group based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other social identity. This might look like discrimination in housing or in the workplace. In extreme cases, it can look like slurs, bullying, and violence.
Inequity is the unjust distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges. It is often the result of oppression or other forms of social injustice. For example, people who live in lower socio-economic areas are subjected to encroachment by power and chemical plants. This is a form of environmental injustice.
Civics is the study of citizenship. A civics education helps you understand citizenship and the responsibilities of living in your town, city, state, and nation. Assisting others to understand civics is a form of advocacy.
Civic engagement is similar to social action and community activism. For example, in civic engagement, you encourage your elected officials to support activities that improve the community. 9900/21
Social Change Definitions–Become a Better Activist
These are just a few of the many terms that are related to social change and activism. By understanding these terms, you grasp the challenges we face as a society and the work that must be done to create a more just world. Also, this knowledge will help you better communicate with others in your activism work.
