ABSTRACT
To some extent, it is beyond the scope of this volume to assess the full importance of social movements within contemporary society. For those who participate in social movements, their impact often extends beyond their stated goals and their success in achieving them. Social movements provide spaces where marginalized individuals feel recognized and often empowered, as they come to see their problems as injustices capable of being addressed. Even if their efforts fall short, the collective identities and agencies formed through social movement participation often outlast a movement’s active phase and continue to give meaning to participants’ lives.
