Question

What is meant by Social Movements? Discuss the causes of Social Movements.

Answer 1

A social movement refers to a general orientation or approach to bring about change. It needs a sustained collective action over a period of time. All those who participate in a social movement have a shared objective and common ideologies. Usually, the protest is against the state to bring about a change in a policy or public issue. For example- the social movement for securing the rights of the tribal people to use the forest or right of the displaced people due to the construction of a dam for settlement and compensation. The social movements can also be against social evils like Sati, child marriage, untouchability or dowry system.

The causes of social movements are :

Social Injustice: When people feel that they are facing injustice, they become frustrated. Such feelings of injustice encourage social movements. Social movements arise whenever the social conditions become extremely unfavorable.

Social Disorganisations: Social dis organisations may arise due to inequality of wealth and income and due to rifts between different religions and castes. These situations can arouse social movements.

Cultural Drifts: Our society constantly undergoes changes like lifestyle changes, changes due to encroachment of MNCs leading to the new culture, amendments in the traditional belief system, etc. All such changes may trigger social movement to implement them properly. For e.g., removal of untouchability, discrimination on the basis of caste, gender and religion and equal opportunities for both the sexes.