Title page for ETD etd-05072009-114230
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Type of Document Master's Thesis
Author Burke, Kelsy Conlin
Author's Email Address kcb17@pitt.edu
URN etd-05072009-114230
Title Rethinking Social Movement Participation and Non-Participation: How and Why South Dakota Pro-Choice Clergy Perceive, Confront, and Navigate Risks
Degree Master of Arts
Program Sociology
School School of Arts and Sciences
Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title
Kathleen Blee Committee Chair
Akiko Hashimoto Committee Member
Mohammed Bamyeh Committee Member
Keywords
  • activism
  • South Dakota
  • risk
  • whistleblowing
  • clergy
  • pro-choice
  • activist identity
  • abortion
  • social movements
Date of Defense 2009-04-30
Availability unrestricted
Abstract
This paper challenges predominant assumptions and definitions presented in social movement literature about risk, activism, and social movement participation by examining the unique case of South Dakota pro-choice clergy. Whereas past research assumes that participation in social movement-related activities results in activist identity, this study shows that perceptions of risk, rather than social movement activities, determine whether or not these clergy join the social movement group, Pastors for Moral Choices, and whether or not they identify as activists. Further, I show that factors often credited with causing social movement participation may be the same factors used to justify not participating in social movements. Finally, I find that progressive clergy perceive multiple levels of risk within the conservative state of South Dakota, and they navigate these risks and advocate for reproductive rights by acting as “whistleblowers.” Overall, this paper complicates social movement concepts and categories and seeks to challenge what is taken for granted in social movement research.
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