Activism: What does it really mean?
Activism: a lot of people participate in it and a lot people share their opinions on it. This clearly lends itself to being a very subjective term open to ambiguity and differing interpretations. With great polarization in our world today, what constitutes as accepted activism by one group sharply contrasts that of another—so it is fair to ask the question: What does activism mean and what is acceptable activism? Chances are you’re not going to get a standard definition or viewpoint.
Some people view activism as a powerful force for positive change in society. Those with that viewpoint have noted a “positive connotation” with the word with many responding that activism is “standing up for something you believe in.”
Interestingly, when questioned about its definition, a majority of respondees with a positive view did not specify or qualify their statement with kinds of activism. They held a general belief that activism is necessary to address areas such as social, political, and environmental spheres and to bring attention to marginalized communities and amplify their voices. They see activism as a legitimate form of civic engagement that can promote democracy, justice, and human rights.
In contrast to this general positive view, many respondees qualified their statement about the kinds of activism they supported. Here, the word activism was unpacked and dissected into its broad subcategories.
Firstly, political activism: perhaps the most common interpretation of the term, encompassing engagement in political or social movements aimed at bringing about change, often through protests, or other demonstrations. This also seemed to be one of the areas of most specified contention as a more extreme view painted activism as a disruptive and sometimes violent force that can undermine social order and stability. They believe that activism can lead to chaos, division, and even extremism, and that it can harm innocent people or damage property. They may see activists as troublemakers or agitators who are more interested in causing problems than finding solutions.
Another subcategory was social activism: a broader category of activism that encompasses a wide range of social issues, including environmental activism, animal rights activism, LGBTQ+ activism, and others. It involves individuals or groups advocating for change in social or cultural attitudes or practices. This type of activism is very common among youth in today’s society as it is seen as an effective way to enact change even with limited resources and representation. Nonetheless, this form of activism has also elicited backlash from groups who believe that people have lost site of their goals in an effort to be “woke.”
One of the most interesting findings throughout this process was the fact that activism was defined by almost 95% of people as standing up for something you believe in through some outward action. Yet, personal activism in its authentic sense was barely represented. This relates to the practice of making personal choices that align with one’s values and beliefs. This could include choosing to live a certain lifestyle, such as veganism or minimalism, or making decisions about personal consumption or investment choices based on ethical considerations. This finding also relates to a criticism of activism that some respondees held, believing that activists are consumed by trying to exert their influence and make change on the things around them, but rarely look inwards.
Many respondees, especially in our digital age, also mentioned digital activism and influencers. This refers to using digital technologies and platforms to promote social or political change. Examples of digital activism include online petitions, social media campaigns, and hacktivism. Influencers on social media platforms use their followers as a way to enact change and share their opinions. Yet, this system also gets hate due to consistent abuse of these forms to only expand their monetary gain or share hateful or racist views or perspectives.
The last form was cultural activism: it was only briefly mentioned and occurs mostly in a niche part of the population who sees activism as a way to revive dying aspect of one’s culture. It includes art, music, or other cultural expressions to advocate for social or political change, and can take many forms, including street art, performance art, and music festivals with a social or political message.
Ultimately, we can look to views on a broader scale, with polar opinions on the word activism stemming from differing beliefs about the effectiveness, legitimacy, and morality of it.
The general positive and negative views which were previously discussed, but there is a third aspect which is a moral view. This view was briefly discussed but to more deeply explore it it encompasses two contrasting views: activism as a moral imperative, or activism as morally questionable. Those who view activism as a moral imperative may believe that it is their duty to fight for what they believe is right, regardless of the consequences. Others may view activism as a violation of ethical or moral principles, such as respect for authority or property rights.
While it’s easy to google a word and get a standard, one sentence definition, it would most definitely loose just how diverse its meaning truly is. These differing views on activism reflect the complex and often contentious nature of social and political change, and the differing perspectives that people bring to issues of power, justice, and morality. Interestingly, few perspectives provided insight on the balance between activism’s value and its wide potential for misuse and harm. This revealed a key truth about society—-the extent to which polarization has spread to cause stubborn and unrelenting viewpoints, as well as the need for compromise if change is actually to happen.