What Difference Does it Make? When Conflict Leads to Change In a Social Movement Organization

• In Event: 463 - Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 10. LGBT Activism

Abstract

Founded in 1950, the Mattachine Society was one of the first politically-active homosexual organizations in the United States. Several years later in 1955, the Daughters of Bilitis formed as an organization for lesbians. Both organizations were founded during one of the most repressive periods in modern American history (the 1950s), a condition that affected the goals, structure, and tactics of both organizations. Similarly, both groups experienced varying degrees of internal conflict throughout their tenure. Using primary sources gathered from several archival collections, I show that the sociopolitical environment largely influenced the formation of the organizations. Early decisions made during the founding, however, became sources of strife that eventually led to fissures in both groups. Conflict continued as the environment changed during the lifespan of the organizations. While the Mattachine Society experienced a drastic overhaul, moving from a radical political organization to a conservative group focused largely on the arts, the Daughters of Bilitis experienced only routine changes but its mission statement and constitution remained stable. This paper will address two primary questions. First, how does the external environment exacerbate internal organizational conflict in a social movement organization? Second, when does such conflict lead to institutionalized change?

Author

• Molly S. Jacobs, University of California-Los Angeles