Social Movement Communities - Essay Example

CRITICALLY COMPARE AND CONTRAST ANY TWO SOCIAL MOVEMENT COMMUNITIES OPERATING IN THE FIELDS OF DISABILITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION. HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE THEY BEEN IN CHALLENGING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITY? By Author’s Name Name of the Class Name of the Professor Name of the School City, State 10 December, 2014 Introduction Discrimination against individuals because of the differences they possess is a sensitive issue in both developing and developed countries. The UK has come a long way in fighting such discrimination on people of different colours, gender, and those disabled and of varying sexual orientations. Over the years, laws have been amended to fit the needs of the society and those affected. Disability and sexual orientation issues are sensitive issues in the UK, which the law and formed social movements address in diverse ways. The UK’s “DDA act defines a person with disabilities as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities” (nidirect.gov.uk, 2014). It ranges from learning, hearing to mobility disabilities among others. Discrimination based on sexual orientation highly targets the homosexual and bisexual individuals than heterosexuals. Because of the international and UK‘s existing laws to protect the disabled and homosexual individuals, discriminative members of the society may use indirect methods to fulfil their functions, which may put them at a particular disadvantage. This paper will discuss how Disability and LGBT rights movements in the UK have challenged these injustices by comparing and contrasting them and assessing their effectiveness in challenging discrimination. Compare and contrast philosophies and objectives of organizations (why they were established, what is that they were/are trying to achieve) a. BDCOP organization for disabled people BCODP organization in UK is among the many organizations formed and controlled by the disabled people and contributed to the awareness of the disabled people’s rights over the last three decades. It was established in 1981by coming together of several disabled people’s organizations (with members from both individuals and local organizations) as part of the wider social movement, and capable of representing these people in meetings of DPI (Carol, 1999, 2009, p.31). After the Rehabilitation International (IR) conference in 1980, most countries were energized to form disabled people organizations, which they could exercise full leadership and control. The disabled delegates who had attended the conference were angered by the domination of health professional in the disability and rehabilitation agenda: failure for the organization’s power sharing with the disabled people led to the emergent of DPI (Maclachian and Swartz, 2009, p.76). In UK alone, numerous organizations managed by disabled people formed to fully represent the interest of disabled people. BCODP was formed to be an umbrella body of the hundreds of organization across United Kingdom supporting and encouraging DPO. BCODP later changed into UKDPC. Objective: Although previous institutions set for the deaf and mentally ill among others had laid the foundation in fighting for disabled people’s rights, discrimination disabled people experienced through the government’s policies and from the society demonstrated the exclusion they struggled with. BCODP/UKDPC works with diverse partnering organizations, it pushes for recognition of disabled people’s rights and equal treatment in the society. Its three main objectives entails: “to secure the civil and human rights of disabled people in the UK by working with DPO’s at grass-roots and national level, full equality and inclusion of the disabled in UK’s society and communities, and Partnering with DPI to ensure full and equal rights of disable people worldwide” (ukdpc.net , n.d., p.1). b. Stonewall for LGBT Movement Numerous organizations had begun back in the 60s and 70s in struggle for lesbians and gay people recognitions by law and in society. Previous establishments of organizations like Gay Liberation Front in New York that later spread in London, Italy and rest of Europe laid a platform for other similar minded organizations and movements. Stonewall charity organization among others have made tremendous progressive in pushing the LGBT’s agenda since its inception. It was established in 1989 by few men and women for the purpose of creating a professional lobbying group in struggle against section 28 of the Local Government Act back in the time, which galvanized the LGBT community, created opportunities for stigmatization, and averted promotion of homosexuality in learning institutions (stonewall.org.uk, n.d.). Although the changing short term objectives over time, equality and diversity have remained the central agendas. They seek to ensure members of the LGBT community have similar opportunities in the society and workplace, and not violated because of their sexual orientations. Compare and contrast strategies and tactics that organizations/groups utilized in their efforts to bring about change a. What BCODP/UKDPC have used Campaigns: BCODP has worked with different committees and locals DPOs to run and manage campaigns especially those concerning social service provisions. One of the most remarkably involvement of the organization in campaigns was for the initiation of the direct payment scheme back in the late 80s. According to the social security Act of 1948 that existed in the time, it only guaranteed the disabled people to receive local care and perhaps welfare benefits for the poor administered nationally, but made it illegal for local authorities to provide cash payments to them (Independent Living Institute, 2003). While some counties in UK had implemented the scheme before, lack of clarity in the law led to it ban severally to early 90s. In order to change the law, BCODP independent living committee was formed whose purpose was to ensure disabled people had access to the independent living scheme that had begun across Europe. This committee had led the campaigns for direct payment and backed it up with prove research of its benefits and satisfaction to the disabled people than local services would achieve. After gathering enough support across the country, it became law under Community Care Act in 1996 (Swain, French, harness and Thomas, 2004). BCODP has begun numerous series of campaigns in struggle for the disabled civil rights to date Disability forums: It has also made use of forums on disability issues in the society to comprehensively understand what happens at the grass root level and get to represent the group’s struggle at the national levels. It has represented disabled people at DPI conferences, European disability forums at the international level and also through their websites. UKDPC has been a central player in the quarterly forums on fulfilling potential for the disabled people in UK (DWP, 2014). As the national representative of the DPO’s UKDPC has engaged in numerous forums/debates with other respective DPO’s, interested organizations and government to discuss issues on the way forward pertaining disables people. Parliamentary lobbying: It is a common practice for most organizations to lobby the members of parliament, especially concerning policies that affect them. Parliamentary lobby had previously been used for direct payment campaigns to gather support of the policy. BCODP IL apparently worked its Fidelity Simpson (parliamentary officer) to bring about the legislation, by approaching specific MPs and politicians, convincing them of the importance of legislature, acquiring their support to push the agenda in the parliament and the public domain (Evans and Hasler, 1996). UKDPC has also organized its own parliament where activists, leaders of DPOs and disability ministers and officials have converged and discussed pertaining to issues of disabled rights and freedom. This has provided opportunities to seek support from politicians on specific policies and push for positive discrimination. b. What Stonewall organization have used Stonewall housing: Considering that there were other real problems like poverty and homelessness that people faced in the society, Stonewall organization saw the need to establish the stonewall housing to shelter the young homeless gay and lesbian (Pinfold, 2013). Majority of these young people are those pushed out from their families due to their sexual orientation, juveniles or discriminated youths in their society. For the past 2-3 decades, it has helped house many LGBT individuals, offered housing advice for both young and older members besides fighting homophobia. Such housing program in USA is the GLEH. Parliamentary lobbying: LGBT’s rights and struggle have been among the major political issues in government and manifestos of political parties since early 90s. As a lobbying organization, stonewall has engaged in advocating for justice and equality, and lodging cases before the ECtHR for amendments of UK statutes that violated human rights (Christoffersen and Madsen, 2011). It has in the past used parliamentary interns/official and political allies to lobby policy makers for the amendment and ratification of legislatures that promote equality and antidiscrimination. This strategy is common for LGBT movements across Europe and USA. Due to Stonewall’s pro-social role in LGBT community, its lobby activities were vital in enactment of Civil Partnership Act and amendments of Equality Act among others since 2000. Campaigns: They have been used in series of events to challenge discrimination of LGBT people in society, in schools and other institutions. For example, it had been a common practice to students and older peers in the society to use damaging phrases like ‘that’s so gay’ to express a dislike of an issue or act. Stonewall did partner with UK’s websites like ‘Mumsnet’ to assist address the ill homophobic language in learning institutions. Another historical campaign activity is the struggle for equal age of consent for the LGBT individuals, which had been raised to 18 rather than 16 back then; equality was achieved in early 2001 (equality-network.org, 2014). Other campaigns entailed marriage for gay people through open forums and even trended online through its twitter and Facebook accounts. Partnership: Stonewall has been forefront in seeking partnership to campaign against social exclusion in marginalized societies of UK. It has partnered with public figures, activists and other organizations to achieve its objectives to targeted groups. For example, it recently partnered with Will Young, a UK singer in campaigns against bullying and homophobic language, and the other with Arsenal FC team to end homophobia in football sports. Assess how these organizations/groups activities have been perceived/responded to by the wider public (Media, Government, Policy Makers, public attitudes) Perception/Response on BCODP/UKDPC The public today has come to appreciate the disabled people among them and treat them with greater care. Due to BCODP’s past activities, UK’s society is well informed on discrimination against the disabled and now gets to support such campaigns to fight for disabled people’s rights. Politicians and government have learnt the group’s needs and would go ahead to involve/consult them in decision making when it comes to policy formulation. The media has aided the organization’s activities especially in publicizing their strategic plans and meetings/campaigns across UK on TV, radios and via internet. It is a central player in fighting against negative discrimination and allowing live debates to inform people and correct public views concerning them. Policy makers have passed some legislation into law following their struggle activities while inclusion in the society has progressed overtime. Perception/Response on Stonewall Activities related to stonewall like other related organization have been tainted by the public’s religious view of homosexual. Because of the public’s division in the issue of sexual orientations, most opponents/supporters find opportunity to speak their mind and rebuke the behavior, especially via media (Trimmer, 2013). Policy makers have aided the organization in discussion of the forwarded agenda, correcting the policies and establishing their effect before ratification. The Government has aided in enforcement of the ratified law s and securing justice for the LGBT community in law courts. The traditional media has come a long way airing views on homosexual people, but with help of internet, the wider UK’s society is aware of the group’s rights and has helped influence positive perception. Stonewall has helped transform workplaces across UK facilitating positive attitude and friendlier environment with the employers and in the public vicinities. Based on the analysis of the two organizations, how should one fight discrimination in the UK and what are the expected results? Assessing the two discrimination cases in UK and the past activities employed to change it, it’s evident that solving them starts right from the society. First it’s from the society that privileges, ideas and stereotypes are constructed over certain social groups. Hence, by looking into the society (structural formation, culture and values among others) you get to understand why such privileges and perception arise for the non-disabled and heterosexual group (alleged normal people). No doubt to fight any form of discrimination in UK just as in other western and developing nations, require beginning from the ground level action that aim at raising awareness and changing the social mind-set and practices prevalent in the society that are discriminative on specific groups (Lamani and Honakeri, 2012). It results to transformation of society and individuals’ thoughts, erases negative stereotypes and allows the isolated group to be incorporated back in the main society. Society can be reached through discussion forums, rallies and informative campaigns. The greatest tool of ending discrimination is by enactment and upholding of anti-discriminative policies/laws that promote respect of human rights and equality irrespective of their variation. Laws provide a legal framework for the society, organizations and government on how to treat people in their diversity; hence violating the law would allow discriminative parties to charged and punished for their crimes. The effect of this the general society abiding by the law and ensuring that been different (disabled or homosexual) is not an opportunity for one to be treated less of a human or denied their equal rights. The government’s law enforcement officers have to play a huge role in this, because laws with guardians cannot itself alone serve the purpose. UK’s parliament as the highest legal authority in charge of formulating laws can legislate favorable laws to the broader society, which the administrative enforcement and judicial officers would follow suite to implement. Fighting discrimination is beyond theoretical measures. UK’s government has been forefront in taking practical measure, especially in charging criminal parties for discrimination against race, sexual orientations, disability and gender among others as stipulated in the law. Other NGOs government organizations should take physically steps as housing and educational programs for the discriminated groups. It goes to involving them in social, political and economic affairs of their country and society. The effect of this is eliminating the hidden and visible discriminative methods used in the greater society and institutions like workplaces. Through this, discriminated people can b able to offer the society more, engage in productive work and capable of changing the society’s negative perception of them. Appendix ECtHR - European Court of Human Rights DPO – Disabled People’s Organization BCODP- British Council of Disabled People UKDPC- United Kingdom Disabled People Council LGBT – Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender GLEH - Gay and Lesbian Elderly Housing DWP – Department of Works and Pension DDA - Disability Discrimination Act DPI – Disabled People’s International References Brief Overview of Stonewall. n.d. [online] Available at:[Accessed 10 December 2014] Carol, T., 1999. Female Forms: Experiencing and Understanding Disability. Buckingham: Open University Press. Christoffersen, J. and Madsen, M. R., 2011.The European Court of Human Rights Between Law and Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. DWP, 2014. Fulfilling Potential making It Happen Strategy Progress Update. [online] Available at:[Accessed 10 December 2014] Evans. J. and Hasler, F., 1996. Direct Payment Campaigns in the UK. [online] Available at:[Accessed 10 December 2014] History. 2014. [online] Available at:< http://www.equality-network.org/about/history/>[Accessed 10 December 2014] Independent Living Institute, 2003. The Independent Living Movement in UK. [Online] Available at:[Accessed 10 December 2014] Lamani, P. and Honakeri, P. M., 2012. Problems and Prospects of Women Empowerment in India. India Stream Research Journal, 2(7), p. 1-5. Maclachian, M. and Swartz, L., 2009. Disability & International Development: Towards Inclusive Global Health. New York: Springer . Pinfold, C., 2013. Stonewall Housing Marks 30 Years of Supporting LGBT People at Risk of Homelessness. [online] Available at:[Accessed 10 December 2014] Swain, J., French, S., Barnes, C. and Thomas, C., 2004. Disabling Barriers, Enabling Environments. London: SAGE Publications LTD. The Definition of Disability. N.d. [Online] Available at:[Accessed 10 December 2014] Trimmer, M., 2013. Church of Englands partnership with Stonewall challenged. [online] Available at:[Accessed 10 December 2014] United Kingdom’s Disabled People’s Council: Strategic Plan 2012-14. [online] Available at:[Accessed 10 December 2014] Read More