The 1960s and 1970s were volatile decades for the emergence of social movements. The majority of the movements formed during this period continue to influence the modern social agenda. The following is a brief description of the social movements introduced in Jo Freeman's Social Movements of the Sixties and Seventies:
The Disabled Movement fought for social integration of the disabled population. Although an umbrella lobbying group, the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities (ACCD), was created in 1974, it was the activism of the San Francisco Bay Area disabled community that brought the movement's issues national attention. An independent living philosophy had developed and grown in California that stimulated a change of consciousness regarding the human potential of the disabled.
The United Farmworker Movement (UFW) succeeded in mobilizing Mexican farmworkers under the leadership of Cesar Chavez. The UFW employed a dual strategy. First it emphasized solidarity among the migrant workers. Then it garnered external support for its cause via boycotts. During the 1970s, the UFW was able to bring sufficient pressure against growers to force them to agree to wage and working condition concessions for its members.
The Men's Movement began during the early 1970s. The Movement appeared in diverse locations prior to the formation of a national organization. Two levels of operation characterized this movement: attendance at major conferences and participation in local support groups. A unique feature of the Men's Movement was the emphasis on personal as opposed to political goals: many of the members sought freedom from restrictive male roles. The Movement began partly in response to the Women's Movement.
Although there are a few national antinuclear groups, much of the structure of the Antinuclear Movement is based on local activism. These groups coalesce in response to a utility's announcement of plans ...