Book analysis.
In writing this paper, students should demonstrate a careful reading of the text and consider how their specific case study might be used in order to generalize to the dynamics of social movements in general. The book analysis, therefore, should be not just an overview of the book, but should discuss, in as much detail as space permits, how this case study relates to the questions raised below.
BOOK: Kimport, Katrina. 2013. Queering Marriage: Challenging Family Formation in the United States. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Analysis content. The paper should begin with the bibliographic information (i.e. an ASA- formatted reference for the book) and a brief (less than two pages) description of the content of the book. The dominant portion of the piece should address the below issues.
(PLEASE PICK SOME OF THE QUESTIONS BELOW IN ORDER TO ANSWER THE PROMPT)
A. How did external factors influence the movement? For example, did the movement depend upon another group for support? What role did the state play in facilitating or repressing the movement? Did the movement arise in order to express specific grievances? Did other movements influence this movement? Were there any major historical events that shaped the movement?
B. How important were internal factors for this movement? For example, what types of organizational form(s) were most prevalent in the movement and what consequences did this have for the movement? How were leaders chosen in the movement and what power did they have compared to other participants? What significance did class, race, gender, sexual orientation, or other axes of difference have for this movement?
C. To what extent were culture and identity important for this movement? For example, were the goals of the movement challenging of the larger culture or supportive of it? What role did cultural or identity factors play in the movements attempts to recruit participants? Did participants have a sense of larger purpose in their participation? Was the movement successful in framing its goals, ideals, and practices to other (outside) groups?
D. Other questions such as: What types of tactics did the movement employ (and were some more successful than others? If so, why)? What was the response of the state and/or other institutions that the movement targeted? Was the movement successful (both in terms of its self-defined goals and also in the opinion of the author)? What were the consequences of the movements success or failure for the internal structure of the movement?
All papers should describe the methodology used by the author in studying this movement. What were their sources: interviews with participants? Participant observation? Newspaper records? Archival data?
In addition, all papers should conclude with a brief critique of the major strengths and/or weaknesses of the book manuscript under review.
