Weathering Change
Gays and Lesbians, Christian Conservatives, and Everyday Hostilities
Published on 1. September 2003
Book
Hardback
267 pages
978-0-8147-5187-9 (ISBN)
Description
The Pacific Northwest is known for its diverse, unusual politics. There are thriving gay and lesbian communities and populations of staunchly conservative Christians. Both groups wield political power out of proportion to their numbers and yet both feel beleaguered. How do members of these groups-both community leaders and everyday citizens-perceive the political climates that surround them
This book tells a tale of two Northwestern cities: Seattle, well known nationally for its liberalism, and Spokane, its conservative cousin to the east. Weathering Change characterizes the ways these liberal and conservative environments translate into hostility and hospitality for the Christian conservatives, gay men, and lesbians who live within them. Linneman gives us a firsthand account of how people from both groups think about social change in relation to the media, the public, the government, their communities, and their opposition. Indeed, we gain much needed insight into why Christian conservatives view the progress of the gay and lesbian movement as such a threat.
This book tells a tale of two Northwestern cities: Seattle, well known nationally for its liberalism, and Spokane, its conservative cousin to the east. Weathering Change characterizes the ways these liberal and conservative environments translate into hostility and hospitality for the Christian conservatives, gay men, and lesbians who live within them. Linneman gives us a firsthand account of how people from both groups think about social change in relation to the media, the public, the government, their communities, and their opposition. Indeed, we gain much needed insight into why Christian conservatives view the progress of the gay and lesbian movement as such a threat.
Reviews / Votes
"Perceptions of political climates and the impact of these perceptions on social change are at the heart of Thomas Linneman's fascinating study of Christian conservatives and lesbians/gays. Using surveys, in-depth interviews, and content analyses of newspapers, he uncovers another side of social movements, namely, the role of social contexts in creating narratives about unique worlds that push people to mobilize against oppression. He persuasively describes how Christian conservatives and lesbians/gays in two very different cities organize, perceive, and make sense of their lives and explains how their intersecting views contribute to the development of social activism." - Peter M. Nardi,author of Gay Men's Friendships "Succeeds in breaking through stereotypes, dogmas, and especially media representations in a major community-based study that humanizes both sidescreating a richer understanding of the complex social realities that exist on each side of the so-called 'culture wars.' I know of no other work of its kind." - Gilbert Herdt,Professor and Director, Program in Human Sexuality Studies and National Sexuality Resource Center, San Francisco State University "An important contribution to the sociology of religion as well as to political sociology. With the currency of Linneman's topics and the skill of his coverage, the book should appeal to students and researchers alike." (Sociology of Religion) "A fascinating account." (Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
548 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8147-5187-9 (9780814751879)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Thomas J. Linneman is Associate Professor of Sociology at The College of William and Mary. He is the author of Weathering Change: Gays and Lesbians, Christian Conservatives, and Everyday Hostilities (NYU Press 2003).
Content
Acknowledgments 1 Experiencing Political Climates 2 Watching the Media 3 Reading the Public Mind4 Engaging the Government 5 Being in the Communities 6 Re?ecting on the Other7 Changing the Climates 8 Concluding Thoughts Appendix: Methods Notes Bibliography Index About the Author