Social change starts with the individual. One gay teenager jumps off a bridge and thousands are motivated to share their coming-out stories.
One person can also serve as a positive symbol to effect social change. A woman keeps her seat on the bus and a social revolution is born.
By working to better the world, you actually make things better for yourself. Studies of collective action have shown that when people identify with a particular cause, and work towards social change, the change often occurs within—people feel legitimized. Empowerment is not necessarily even reliant on the movement's success: victory occurs in the very struggle of self-expression and self-empowerment.
Entries for It Gets Better/Make It Better should explore this theme of how the individual exists within and can affect the community. One is many.
Curated by Paula Tognarelli, Executive Director, Griffin Museum,
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