Final answer:
The movement stage in a social movement's lifecycle, corresponding to the coalescence phase, involves organized activities to publicize the issue and advocate for change, growing in structure and strategic planning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The movement stage of a social movement is part of a sociological framework that explains how such movements evolve over time. As outlined by sociologists like Blumer and Tilly, this framework identifies four key stages: preliminary, coalescence, institutionalization, and decline. In the movement stage, which usually corresponds to the coalescence phase, individuals who are aware of an issue begin to organize around it. This involves planning and executing activities to raise public awareness and advocacy for change. The movement stage is characterized by increased organization, strategy development, and the execution of collective action.
Different types of social movements, such as alternative, resistance, and reform movements, can all be analyzed through this stage-oriented perspective. For example, the transformation of the women's suffrage movement after achieving voting rights for women into a broader campaign for gender equality illustrates a movement's potential evolution post-success. However, not all movements progress linearly through these stages, and at times they may even regress or skip stages depending on various internal and external factors. Additionally, the decline stage can ensue if the movement achieves its goals, loses relevance, or is unable to sustain its membership and activities.