Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis & Resolution
Department
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies
First Advisor
Dustin Berna
Second Advisor
Jason J. Campbell
Third Advisor
Judith McKay
Keywords
Bloggers and Blogs, Conflict Resolution, Internet, LGBT, Social Minority Groups, Social Movements, LGBTQ studies, Political science, Alternative dispute resolution
Abstract
The Internet is a ubiquitous feature in everyday life, but its application to social movements has yet to be completely understood. This phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of bloggers who focused on the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement in the United States to understand the impact bloggers and their work as online activists have on existing LGBT social movement organization and operation. Data collection is gathered from semi-structured and open-ended interviews with four social movement bloggers using web-conference software over the course of three months. The results of this study indicated that internet has empowered individual activists, allowing them to gather a following and share their views to a large audience over the web, independent from existing social movement organizations. Consequently, bloggers and online activists maintain a relationship with existing social movement structure that is both collaborative and antagonistic. The results of this study contribute to the current understanding of social movement organizations as well as the impact of technological innovations on social movement advocacy.
NSUWorks Citation
Bobby K. Huen. 2015. Bloggers and Their Impact on Contemporary Social Movements: A Phenomenological Examination of the Role of Blogs and Their Creators in the LGBT Social Movements in Modern United States. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies. (30)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/30.
Included in
American Politics Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons, Social Media Commons, Social Policy Commons, Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons