Change Quote by Noam Chomsky
““Over the last 25 years, the major popular movements that have had significant impact on the general society and have changed it, that have had a major civilizing effect – the feminist movement, the environmental movement, and so on – these are mostly developments of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Their roots might be in the activism of the ‘60s, but the movements themselves developed and extended later. The same is true of the changes in respect for other cultures, rights of oppressed people, and so on. These are quite significant changes. If you compare the United States now to what it was, say, 35 years ago, the changes are quite dramatic. These are changes in popular consciousness that are quite deeply embedded.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Social Movements, 2000
Social movements from the 1970s‑80s reshaped societal values, embedding new norms about gender, environment, and cultural rights.
In simple terms: 1970s‑80s movements changed society’s core beliefs.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how past activism shapes today’s norms.
Themes
social change
culture
activism
history
values
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
sociological
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education curricula
- media framing
- community organizing
- personal worldview
Key Concepts
civilization
collective consciousness
norm formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do these movements influence your daily decisions?
- What resistance do they still face?
A Different Perspective
These shifts may be uneven and contested across regions and groups.
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