"We Thought We Were Going to Get It Done": Examining the Paid Family Leave Campaign in Massachusetts
Lori Gardinier
DOI: 10.2190/WR.13.4.d
Abstract
This case study identifies the factors that promoted the mobilization and de-escalation of the paid family leave campaign in Massachusetts from 1998 to 2002. These factors are compared against those involved in the California campaign that resulted in the successful passage of legislation. The present article provides a unique exploration of paid family leave organizing and reveals the problems that are specific to mobilization for this issue. This research is significant to social movement research and policy studies because it highlights the elements, processes, and resources that influence and foster meaningful and effective coalition building, and the relationships between mobilization groups and larger systems. This case study applies interview, documentary and economic indicators. The primary conclusion is that intertwined economic, political, and organizational factors coupled with proposed policy components impeded success in Massachusetts and that the factors and policy in Massachusetts differed from the conditions and policy proposals in California.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.