Gender and Social Movements

Jo Reger is Professor of Sociology and Department Chair at Oakland University.

“[Makes] for a thoughtful learning experience in the classroom, in a book club, or as a noteworthy read for early career scholars studying social movements, collective behavior, social change, and intersectionality.”Social Forces“[T]his is a book that students will love for what it succeeds at doing: laying out in concise and clear language how we think about gender in feminist studies and how the fragmentation of gender in and of itself will not bring about a world without patriarchy.”International Sociology“With great clarity and insight, Reger traces how gender influences all aspects of social movements:  who joins, who leads, how agendas get defined, how activists frame social problems, and the very impacts movements have on society. Reger’s crystal clear account reveals that gender is present everywhere in movement activism. This is a ‘must read’ account for anyone who participates in, studies, or cares about social movements.” Holly McCammon, Vanderbilt University“This accessibly written book is both eminently teachable and a must-read for scholars. Using a wide range of engaging examples and centering intersectionality, Reger brilliantly synthesizes the most current research and unpacks how major processes in social movements are gendered.” Nancy Whittier, Sophia Smith Professor of Sociology, Smith College

• Introduction: Integrating Gender and Social Movements 1. People in Movements: When Movements Focus on Single-Gender Concerns2. Gender in Movements: What Happens in Multi-Gender Movements3. Coming to the Movement: How Gender Influences Pathways to Activism4. Guiding Social Change: When Gender Shapes Movement Trajectories5. Legacies of Rise and Resistance: How Gender Sparks Change and BacklashConclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?