Activism 101

You've likely heard the term 'activism,' especially as it has been coming up more recently. These days it's impossible to listen to the news without hearing the term pop up at least once - and with good reason.

Even with its presence in the news, many people don't fully understand what activism is or the role it plays in our communities. Let's take a closer look at activism, including a few examples and everything that goes into it.

What Is Activism?

As the name may suggest, activism is a call for direct action, typically with a specific goal in mind. Usually, it comes up as people try to promote (or stop) a particular issue. One of the most famous examples of activism would be a set of protestors tying themselves to trees to protect a local forest from being torn down.

While the example above is a more positive one, not everyone has such a favorable opinion of activism. The simple truth is that activism tends to rise from charged situations, meaning that people are usually on two different sides. This complicates the situation, though it does not negate the necessity of activism.

The Roles Within Activism

According to Bill Moyer's Movement Action Plan, there are four roles within activism. They are citizens, reformers, rebels, and change agents. Citizens are everyday people - part of society. They can easily fall on either side of the line yet can help promote positive change.

Next are reformers. A reformer utilizes lobbying, lawsuits, and rallies to help promote change on a higher level. Likewise, rebels strive for change, though, as with any tier, there are positive and negative ways to try and bring this change about. Experts always encourage rebels to focus on nonviolent forms of protest and other means to make their voices heard.

Finally, there are change agents. Change agents help organize people, promote education, and create longer-term plans and structures. Again, all four roles have positive and negative sides, depending on how the people within these roles act.

How to Get Involved

Given the state of the world, you may be asking yourself how you can get involved. There are countless ways to help make a positive change in this world. Here are a few ways to get started:

It is always recommended that you take the time to research the issue at hand. This will give you a better idea of what is happening and how you can help. Next, remember that no action is too small to make a difference.

Those wanting to help a cause can reach out to like-minded people, volunteer, donate, and vote with their money. They can also take the next step and join in a letter-writing campaign or begin attending rallies. All of these methods are effective at ensuring that your voice is heard.