Shaping Student Activists: Discursive Sensemaking of Activism and Participation Research

Abstract

As social media becomes a more potent force in society, particularly for younger generations, the role in activism has been contested. This qualitative study examines 35 interviews with students regarding their perceptions of the use of social media in social change, their perceptions of activists, and their level of self-identification as an activist. Data suggest that students use media to engage in offline participation in activist causes, because offline presents a “safe” place to begin their involvement. Findings also point to the unified pejorative connotations of the term “activist”, yet also demonstrate ways that students transform the negative stereotype of activists in a way that creates a more positive image of activists. Most participants in the study were able to see sufficient positive characteristics in behaviors they associated with activism to prompt the students to identify themselves as “activists” or “aspiring activists”. We offer 3 practical recommendations for teachers who seek to increase service learning vis a vis activism in their classrooms.

#Activism: Understanding how student leaders utilize social media for social or political change

“…This pilot study suggests that rather than shying away from the topic of social and political change, practitioners can actively help co-construct environments that illustrate examples of successful student activism (Swank & Fahs, 2011). Moreover, conversations about strategies for activism can serve as a teaching tool to help students learn from past examples (Taha, Hastings, & Minei, 2015). Such dialogue can reframe deficit views on student activism to instead focus on ways that individuals can create forms of social and political change.…”