CULTURE SHIFT THEORY OF CHANGE
The Culture Shift Theory of Change was created to show how cultural inventions can pave the way for culture shift. Investing in cultural strategy is how we win. To ensure this was a movement-wide collaborative process, we assembled various organizations engaged in reproductive justice work who have used and are using culture shift strategies to organize and mobilize audiences.
WHAT IS CULTURE SHIFT?
Culture shift means changing the values, beliefs and behaviors that are readily accepted and understood as the norm. Examples include: normalization of personal pronouns or changing from a “pro-choice” framework to highlighting abortion rights.
WHAT IS CULTURAL INTERVENTION?
"Intentional actions that challenge and disrupt the dominant power structures of the status quo. The goal is to respond to the immediate needs of the community in order to move them to action while offering healing." - Monica Simpson
Cultural interventions include works of art like murals, performance art, or music. They are also events i.e. rallies, flash mobs, concerts or parties to raise awareness of issues. They can be instant, as in rapid response, or they can be longer-range strategic activities including hashtags or billboard campaigns.
Cultural interventions have a long history in movement building and social justice. For generations, creatives have been asserting that art is a force to be reckoned with in generating change in the face of oppression. Their cultural contributions in books, interviews and songs are reborn daily on social media inspiring new generations. Amplifying arts and culture within our movements is a path to victory.
Culture transcends the most impervious borders and barriers, and it’s time that we elevate creatives as an indispensable part of our movement. Without investment for culture shift and cultural interventions, we will continue to play defense to well funded and diabolical right wing strategists who manipulate the basest human emotions - hatred and fear - to promote patriarchal political agendas
Want to read the Culture Shift Collective’s Theory of Change? Click the link now!
THE COLLECTIVE
