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As a precondition to using social movement actions, change agents must understand how powerful social movements have been in achieving transformation. In this section, you will learn about some examples of social movements that have led to innovation in health care and beyond.
What is the precondition "Examples of social movements are recognized"?
Examples of successful social movements indicate their potential for driving change. By learning about social movement action and some of these examples, we can understand how they can be used to effect change (del Castillo et al., 2016; Grinspun, 2017b; Sustainable Improvement Team and the Horizons Team, 2018).
Social movements have occurred in the context of health care since the 1700s and continue to the present day. "Bottom-up" activists have sought and achieved gains such as: broadening access to services; expanding knowledge from those with lived experiences; advocating and advancing rights for groups of citizens; and implementing evidence into clinical practice (del Castillo et al., 2016; Dementia Action Alliance, 2009).
For example, since the 1980s, civil society agencies or community social groups, such as the Alzheimer Society, Alcoholics Anonymous and the AIDS Committee, have sought to represent themselves and their needs based on their own lived experiences and understanding. As agencies or groups outside of government or business sectors, civil society agencies have used social movement actions to connect groups of individuals and represent their needs and values (Dementia Action Alliance, 2009).
Why is this precondition important?
Individuals who have engaged in social movements have historically often had little to no hierarchical power; they also often lacked knowledge and experience of social movement thinking and actions, as well as access to resources. Nonetheless, their commitment and drive for a purpose shared by others has led to grassroots movements that have grown and have changed outcomes (del Castillo et al., 2016; Sustainable Improvement Team and the Horizons Team, 2018).
Examples of social movements and their outcomes show the power a group of committed individuals who are engaged in change - or a critical mass - can have when invested in a shared concern or strongly desired change and achieving goals. This can occur at several levels - the micro level (changes between individuals), meso level (changes at the organizational or community level) and/or macro level (changes at the system level, which often impact policies) (Bibby et al., 2009; Carson-Stevens et al., 2013; del Castillo et al., 2016; Embry & Grossman, 2006; Grinspun et al., 2018; Sustainable Improvement Team and the Horizons Team, 2018).
