The Survival of The Women's Movement: Turnover and Continuity in Bloomington, Indiana

Some observers have argued that the women's movement has declined in recent years to the point that it is dead or at best irrelevant in a "postfeminist" age. In fact, there has been a remarkable continuity in movement activity, even in a locale characterized by high population turnover and a lack of stable movement organizations. Based on a case study of feminist activity in Bloomington, Indiana, this paper shows how the women's movement has survived in such a setting through institutionalization, the creation of a movement culture and discourse, and issue-driven collective action.