Weathering Change: Gays and Lesbians, Christian Conservatives, and Everyday Hostilities

by Thomas J. Linneman

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814751879
Publisher:	New York University Press
Publication date:	09/01/2003
Pages:	267
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

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).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
1 Experiencing Political Climates
2 Watching the Media
3 Reading the Public Mind
4 Engaging the Government
5 Being in the Communities
6 Reflecting on the Other
7 Changing the Climates
8 Concluding Thoughts
Appendix: Methods
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"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 sides—creating 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

Editorial Reviews

"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

"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

From the Publisher

"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

"A fascinating account."

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

"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