The Structure of Belief Systems Among Contending ERA Activists

The structures of beliefs on feminist policy preferences are compared for activists who led campaigns supporting and opposing a Massachusetts referendum on equal rights for women (ERA) in 1976. Beliefs of opposing activists demonstrate asymmetric structures. The preferences for feminist policies of ERA proponents show significantly greater constraint, consensus, and position extremity than do those of ERA opponents. These findings are explained in terms of differences in the group processes among activists within social movements that assert new claims and responsibilities compared with those that defend old rights and privileges. Are there systematic differences in the patterns of policy preferences held by social movement activists supporting and opposing change? For almost twenty years, Tilly has elaborated systematic differences at the structural level which distinguish proactive movements supporting change from reactive movements opposing. This paper extends that discussion by arguing that the organization of proactive and reactive belief systems differs systematically as well. Data to test this thesis are preferences on feminist policies held.by activists working for and against an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the state constitution of Massachusetts in 1976. *An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, 1980. Preparation of the paper was made possible by a postdoctoral grant, #1F32 MHO7811-01 from the National Institute of Mental Health to the first author. Data collection and analysis were funded by a faculty grant to both authors from Wellesley College and continued support from its Center for Research on Women and the Wellesley College Computer Center. We thank Henry Noerenberg, our collaborator on the Massachusetts state survey, and Andrea Levere, who conducted most of the interviews with Massachusetts activists. We have benefited from the comments of Myra Ferree, Charles Judd, Robert Mitchell, Tahi Mottl, and Frances Fox Piven. ? 1982 The University of North Carolina Press. 0037-7732/82/030657-75$01.90