Final answer:
Before the 1960s, traditional social movements focused on reforming specific societal issues such as women's suffrage, temperance, labor rights, public health, and the fight for social justice for marginalized communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before the 1960s, traditional social movements focused on a variety of goals, most of which were linked to reforming specific aspects of society. These movements were often born out of responses to societal problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and long-standing injustices. They covered issues such as women's suffrage, temperance, labor rights, public health and the establishment of parks and recreation programs.
For instance, the first stage of feminism saw women mobilizing to fight for the right to vote and participating actively in movements like the temperance movement to promote family stability. During the progressive era, many reforms aimed at social justice involved women in leading roles, and there were movements focused on helping different marginalized groups, including African Americans, immigrants, and the working poor. Movements like these sought to change something specific about the social structure, offering solutions within the existing political and economic frameworks.
The types of social movements identified by sociologist David Aberle, such as reform movements and religious/redemptive movements, provide additional context for understanding the various objectives and scopes of these collective actions. Reform movements aimed at specific social structures, while religious/redemptive movements aimed at inner change in individuals. Each category helped shape the direction and impact of the social changes pursued.