Civil Disobedience: The Effectiveness Of Nonviolence

The society we live in is full of ideas that require a change, but initiating the transition is challenging. Many people fail to comprehend which method they can use to for changing society. In my opinion, the most effective way to apply is nonviolent civil disobedience. The technique is also referred to as peaceful protests or passive resistance. It is the practice of having a symbolic protest, civil disobedience, political or economic noncooperation, or other strategies to initiate change while not being violent. The citizens refuse to obey some laws, demands, orders, or commands of a government. The method was recognized by Henry David Thoreau in early 1849 when he wrote his essay about 'Essay on Civil Disobedience.' Nonviolent Civil Disobedience has been used widely in the United States since time immemorial to change the laws that were not favoring the group. The method was used in eradicating slavery and the war in Mexico. For instance, the women's movement in the 1960s and 70s sought to eliminate discrimination against the female gender. It is through nonviolent civil disobedience that the women's movement protested peacefully, and there is decreased gender bias. Initially, women were sexually harassed; they had low wages, suffered from domestic violence, had no right to vote, experienced sexual harassment, suffrage, and many others. Nonetheless, the women’s movement has fought for equal opportunities for women, and for their freedom. Currently, there are low cases of domestic violence and sexual harassment.

Women are also allowed to exercise their rights as citizens of the nation. Further, irrespective of gender, both males and females are receiving equal salaries if working at the same level of the department. Additionally, women are allowed to vote and elect leaders of their choice. Another movement that has proved nonviolence civil disobedience being an effective method to change society is the African American Civil Rights Movement. The organization is also referred to as the Civil Rights Movement. They aimed at eradicating racial segregation against blacks in the United States. For instance, in the year 1954, the U.S Supreme Court outlawed discrimination in the nation's public schools and learning institutions in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. In the 1955–56, the Alabama bus boycott nonviolent action also reduced segregation in the country, especially in the public transport system after Rose, Park, an African American woman refused to give her seat in a segregated bus to a native. Therefore, the nonviolent civil disobedience method has been proven to be an effective method to initiate a change in a country. Additionally, the war protest against the U.S militants to participate in the Vietnam War in 1960 and 1970s helped the state to end the war. Nevertheless, by the year 1967, according to Gallup Polls, the majority of Americans considered the involvement of the U.S military in the Vietnam War as a mistake.

In conclusion, nonviolence civil disobedience is a primary method that has been used by many movements to initiate change in society without violence. Although other means, such as voting, violation, courts and legal systems, and many others can be used, nonviolent civil disobedience is the most effective way. Nonviolence civil disobedience has a higher impact on initiating change, unlike others, maybe because the method involves a mass congregation, or perhaps because they demonstrate peacefully.