Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained? Conceptualizing Social Movement 'Success' in the Lesbian and Gay Movement

Bibliographic Data

ID2482004
AuthorsMorris Bernstein (0000-0002-2750-2209, University of Connecticut, corresponding author), Mary Bernstein
Year2003
Volume46
Issue3
Pages353-379
Publication date2003-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Perspectives (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0731-1214 • E-ISSN: 1533-8673
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1525/sop.2003.46.3.353
OpenAlexW1987326261
LanguageEN
Citations received62
References cited53

This article employs and expands a multidimensional framework for understanding movement effects that includes political, mobilization, and cultural outcomes. It compares lesbian and gay efforts to decriminalize sodomy between 1961 and 1977 and between 1986 and 1991 and examines the conditions under which activists strive for different sorts of goals. Because movement strategies are inextricably tied to what motivates activists-that is, their understanding of what constitutes success-this article sheds light on how activists understand and negotiate their external environment. In contrast to previous formulations, it argues that political, mobilization, and cultural goals do not always line up in a one-to-one fashion. Therefore, activists' understandings of the relationship between political opportunities and different sorts of outcomes influences their strategic choices, which in turn affects the types of outcomes they achieve

Aesthetics · Epistemology · Lesbian · Negotiation · Nothing · Political science · Politics · Social movement · Social science · Sociology · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Gender Politics and Representation · Gender Studies · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Psychology · Social Psychology