An Analysis of the U.S. Women's Rights Movements

The case of the Women's United Soccer Association : explaining the rise and fall of a social movement organization.

“…Numerous RM theorists have listed factors they utilized when exploring SMs and SMOs (Feree& Martin, 1995;McCarthy &Zald, 1987;McGlen& O'Connor, 1983). These factors include leadership, organizational base, administrative structures, communications networks, cooperation with like-minded organizations, competition for organizational space, means for acquiring resources and support, and critical mobilizing events.…”

“…McCarthy and Zald (1987), for example, argued that "movements, if they are to be The first factor according to McGlen and O'Connor (1983) focused on the requirement of having experienced individuals, called "leaders" or "entrepreneurs" ready, willing, and able to initiate action to mobilize a movement. The second factor, emphasized the role of an organizational base in order to mobilize (i.e., a constituency group to mobilize).…”

“…The third factor stressed the importance of having appropriate communication avenues in place to mobilize and expand the constituency group. The fourth factor referred to the term "critical mobilizing event" (McGlen& O'Connor, 1983), which focused on an event or group of events, exciting the group into action. Oberschall (1973) noted these crises, which he termed "precipitating conditions," can be a series of events or a single happening.…”

“…Leadership.Both McCarthy and Zald (1987) as well as McGlen and O'Connor ( 1983) expressed the importance of leaders and leadership in establishing a successful social movement, social movement organization, and social movement association. The leader(s) ofa SM, SMO, or SMA dictate the direction and success of these entities.…”

“…McGlen and O'Connor (1983) theorized the necessity of preexisting organizations or an organizational base for an SM or SMO/SMA to develop. They noted, for example, how the abolitionist movement provided a base for the first women's movement.…”