Collective Identity and Australian Feminist Activism (Paperback)

Conflict in social movements is too often misunderstood as being an indication of a movement's impending demise rather than as important, reflexive work that allows movements to renew themselves. This book addresses this question of conflict in social movements head on. Using the Australian women's movement as a case study, the book makes a radical departure from much previous social movement theorising. Here, conflict between activists is seen as a significant and productive part of social movement activity and of feminist collective identity. Using original research with contemporary young feminists, the book re-visions conflict as a potentially productive force; one that, if managed carefully, has the capacity to enhance activists' conceptual clarity, allowing them to imagine new forms of social existence and develop new strategies and tactics. Through an understanding of conflict as an essential part of their collective identities, generations of feminists are encouraged to conceptualise a new wave of activism.