"Speak Now": Social Learning, Internalized Misogyny, and Women's Protest Participation in Europe

• 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

**Abstract**
This paper examines how gender influences social learning in social movements, particularly how individuals use personal networks—both online and offline—to mobilize, organize, and sustain activism. While young women are less engaged in conventional political activities, they are significantly more involved in community-based activism and non-confrontational forms of protest. Additionally, protests advocating for vulnerable groups attract more women than mainstream demonstrations, suggesting that participation is shaped not only by structural barriers like time, financial constraints, and safety concerns but also by deeper emotional and ideological connections to social justice causes.
Despite the growing visibility of women in activism, their participation remains understudied, particularly in relation to internalized misogyny and its role in shaping civic engagement. Public discourse often reinforces harmful stereotypes, discouraging women from engaging in protests—especially those centered on gender equality. This study situates these issues within a social learning framework, exploring how movements challenge dominant narratives and empower women’s activism.
To further examine these dynamics, we analyze data from nationally representative surveys conducted in Romania, Germany, Spain, Hungary, and the United Kingdom as part of the **TakePart: Social Movements** project. Using the **Modern Sexism Scale** (Swim et al., 1995), we investigate how sexism influences protest behavior. Key research questions include: (1) How does sexism shape civic participation and protest engagement? (2) Do self-efficacy and political efficacy mediate the relationship between social learning and women’s participation? (3) Are protests advocating for vulnerable groups more likely to attract women? (4) Does increased awareness of misogyny correlate with greater solidarity with other marginalized groups?
By addressing these questions, this study contributes to understanding the gendered dynamics of activism and their implications for democratic participation and social transformation.

Author

• Sorana Alexandra Constantinescu, Babes-Bolyai University