The Origins of the Women's Liberation Movement

A study of the origins of the two branches of the women's liberation movement is used to illustrate the microstructural prerequisities of movement formation. It is proposed that there must be a preexisting co-optable communications network within at least part of the social base of a potential movement in order for any "spontaneous" activity to have more than a temporary effect. This network must be galvanized by a combination of precipitating events and specific organizing activity. It is further hypothesized that the nature of the initial core groups will largely determine the subsequent structure and strategy of the movement.