Professionalisation and precariousness: perspectives on the sustainability of activism in everyday life

Abstract

Sustainable activism requires both elasticity and rigor, the ability to learn and compromise as well as the willingness to stick to values and convictions. In this article I argue that activism and professionalisation are not necessarily mutually exclusive but that the ability to move from one to another form of activism is important for the sustainability of activism at the individual, organisational and movement levels. Acknowledging the diversity of activism also highlights that activism and everyday life can be intertwined and that family, community and work can in fact motivate and be sites of activism. The shift from one sphere and form of activism to another is important at the individual level in order to prevent burnout. Furthermore such shifts allow for different tactics, a division of labour and coalition building at the organisational and movement levels. I introduce some key figures in social movements who represent different forms of activism and professionalism. They connect different spheres of activism, take on different roles in and provide access to various resources to social movements. These key figures illustrate biographical consequences of activism as well as boundary crossing between different spheres and activities. Finally, I introduce the case study of a women’s cooperative to show how activism and rofessionalism intersect.

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ORCID for Silke Roth: orcid.org/0000-0002-8760-0505

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