Pathways to Participation: Motivations and Mechanisms Leading to Involvement in The "Woman,Life,Freedom" Movement

• In Event: 20861 - Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Drivers and Barriers to Movement Participation

Abstract

The "Woman, Life, Freedom" (WLF) movement, which emerged in Iran in September 2022, represents a high-risk social movement challenging state oppression. While existing research has analyzed its slogans, goals, and causes, this study situates the movement within the sociology of social movements, particularly micromobilization theories. Traditional models of movement participation have often assumed homogeneity among activists and singular pathways to engagement. However, recent scholarship (Viterna 2006; Bosi 2012; Isaac et al. 2020) has highlighted the multiplicity of entry routes and diverse participant experiences. This study interrogates these theoretical assumptions by exploring the question: “What pathways do proestors dollow to participate in the WLF movement?” Drawing on 27 in-depth interviews with protestors who participated in street demonstrations between September 2022 and September 2023, it employs snowball sampling and open-ended questions to investigate mobilization trajectories. Through a thematic analysis of protest framing and participation, this research identifies three distinct pathways: “pulled pathway”, “pushed pathway” and “persistent opposition pathway”. While the first two align with Viterna’s (2006) framework, the third constitutes a novel theoretical contribution, demonstrating how individuals not fully aligned with the movement’s ideology still engage in protest. This study illuminates the factors influencing pathway selection, including encounters with morality police, cognitive liberation, and daily acts of resistance for those pulled into the movement. Meanwhile, critical events, environmental conditions, and being pushed mentally influenced those pushed towards participation. By investigating these paths and their underlying dynamics, this study contributes to understanding the complexity inherent in grassroots activism in oppressive situations. It sheds light on the various reasons and experiences that motivate people to join the WLF movement.

Author

• Golasa sadat Haji mirzaei, Yale University