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Class Discussion - Week 7

Connect the example you found for your Dropbox assignment to a reading or concept previously covered in the course. Discuss how the nonviolent actions depicted in your chosen campaign contribute to the constructive transformation of conflicts within the frameworks or theoretical perspectives we've explored so far.

Reply to these examples with 100 words each Rhiannon Miller (She/her) Feb 18 9:56pm Manage Discussion by Rhiannon Miller

Reply from Rhiannon Miller

I will connect the Riders Against Gender Exclusion (RAGE) campaign to the theoretical perspectives covered in our readings, particularly focusing on Tilly's framework of collective violence and Gurr’s concept of relative deprivation.

Tilly’s (2003) conceptualization of collective violence focuses on how group actions, motivated by grievances, can escalate into violent conflicts. However, the RAGE campaign is a strong example of how nonviolent actions can serve as an alternative to collective violence while still addressing grievances. In this case, transgender activists were responding to the structural violence faced by gender non-conforming individuals using SEPTA's transit system due to the discriminatory policy of gender markers on passes. Rather than resorting to physical violence, RAGE used collective nonviolent tactics, including symbolic protests and strategic community mobilization, to challenge SEPTA’s policies. This aligns with Tilly’s idea that grievances can lead to contentious politics, but in this case, nonviolent methods allowed the activists to transform the conflict constructively, without resorting to violence.

Tilly also identifies several mechanisms that contribute to collective violence, including relational mechanisms like polarization and boundary activation. The RAGE campaign exemplifies this with the way it framed the conflict—dividing the "us" (transgender and gender non-conforming people) against the "them" (SEPTA management). This division strengthened the sense of solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community and sharpened the focus on SEPTA as an adversary, making the “us” and “them” distinction clearer. Through direct action and public pressure, they also brokered relationships with city officials, which contributed to eventual success in having the gender markers removed. This illustrates Tilly's relational mechanism of connecting previously separate social sites to create alliances, further intensifying the campaign's momentum.

Gurr's (1970) theory of relative deprivation explains how perceived discrepancies between societal expectations and personal capabilities can lead to unrest. In the case

of RAGE, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals faced a deep sense of relative deprivation due to the social barriers imposed by SEPTA's gender marker policy. This policy, by misrepresenting their gender identity, heightened the sense of marginalization and exclusion from society’s norms. The activists, who saw this policy as a denial of their rightful participation in public life, were reacting to this deprivation of their identity and dignity.

In Gurr’s framework, the concept of aspirational deprivation is key, where individuals are angered by the inability to achieve new or intensified expectations. For transgender individuals, the SEPTA policy represented a failure of society to accommodate and respect their gender identity, creating a gap between what they expected (dignity, recognition) and what they received (discrimination and exclusion). By organizing protests, holding public forums, and staging symbolic acts like "SEPTA is a Drag," RAGE directly addressed this perceived deprivation and aimed to shift societal norms toward greater inclusivity and respect. Gurr’s focus on anomie—where breakdowns in social norms lead to feelings of uncertainty and disillusionment—resonates with the feelings of alienation experienced by the transgender community when their gender identity was denied through the use of gender markers on SEPTA passes. By drawing attention to this issue, RAGE worked to reverse the anomie felt by these individuals and reinstate social norms that recognized and respected transgender identities.

The RAGE campaign aligns with both Tilly’s and Gurr’s theoretical frameworks by addressing structural violence, relative deprivation, and social exclusion through nonviolent means. By engaging in symbolic protests, public interventions, and creating an alternative discourse around gender identity, RAGE’s actions helped to transform the conflict between transgender activists and SEPTA. Rather than escalating to violent tactics, they used strategic nonviolent methods that contributed to the constructive transformation of the conflict, ultimately leading to the removal of the gender markers on SEPTA passes in 2013. This campaign serves as a powerful example of how nonviolent resistance can address underlying social issues and foster long-term change.

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Miruslaba Quezada Feb 18 9:27pm| Last edited Feb 18 9:33pm| Last reply Feb 18 10:01pm Manage Discussion by Miruslaba Quezada

Reply from Miruslaba Quezada

The article that i chose for my Dropbox assignment is an article on the mass deportations that are going on right now, the article addresses the struggles that families are going through and the peaceful protests that are going on in some places right now. Such as the walkouts for immigrants like student led protests against anti immigration policies in the US. This connects to multiple frameworks that we have spoken about in this class such as protests, strikes and symbolic acts, which all tie to the walkouts.

Some examples of concepts previously discussed about in the course are examples such as

Promoting empathy and dialogue

I think protests create a space where thoughts can be shared and heard, this makes it so the problem that is being faced can be shared in a way where the people causing this problem can hear the communities concerns and create a space that contributes to conversation isntead of violence and rebellion

Conflict transformation

Johan galtungs concept of conflict transformation provides a view where we can analyze these walkouts. This is because it focuses on adressing the root of a problem and even causing contructive change rather than just solving immediate disputes. These walkouts serve the community by symbolizing the systemic injustecis and advocating for policy changes.

Collaborative actions

Thse immigration walkouts are great example of collaborative actions because they involve communities getting together and working to a common goal. By working together people create a larger movement that educates the public and pushes for systemic change.

By engaging in nonviolent actions people can participate in projects that create a broader societal reflection on immigration policies. This will help build a base for long-term social and political transformations.

Overall, the immigration walkouts serve as a powerful tool that demostrates nonviolent resistance that creates a space for empathy that encourages meaningful conversation and sharing of knowledge. by connecting some of these concepts into the article it creates a way to see the impacts that nonviolent actions can also push for change and bring communities with the same beliefs together. in the end these protests help contribute into a bigger broader societal reflection on immigration policies laying a foundation for long-term change and even political transformation.

Article used:

Quiñones Wolfson, S. (2025, February 5). Why L.A. students walked out of school and protested mass deportations. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2025-02-04/student-walkouts-immigrant-protest-los -angeles