UW Political Science PhD candidate Emily Kalah Gade wrote an article addressing the chances of the Women’s March becoming a serious social movement for the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog. Gade lists and discusses five reasons for why “the Women’s March may succeed as a movement where others have failed”:
- This march drew support from many different corners of society.
- The march was successfully nonviolent.
- The U.S. has a strong, independent court system.
- Movements need a common elevating goal.
- “Relative deprivation” is a powerful motivation for action. That’s the fear that your rights and opportunities will be diminished.”
The article titled “Why the Women’s March may be the start of a serious social movement” appeared on The Washington Post website on January 30, 2017. The article is part of a series that appeared on The Monkey Cage focusing on what social science can tell us about the Women’s March on Washington. The Monkey Cage is a blog that relies upon political science research “to make sense of the circus that is politics.” It was named 2010 Blog of the Year by The Week and a 2012 Best Blog by Time.