過去的社會運動研究強調政治機會結構對於運動的組織與策略的影響,卻忽略了這樣的影響,是透過行動者及其生命傳記背景,在環境的限制下所主動選擇的。本文以運動者的調查訪談資料為主指出:組織劇碼、議題與策略皆不是中性的。不同生命傳記背景的運動者會傾向選擇不同的組織模式,這些選擇也會回過來影響運動者的組成,進而影響運動的議題與策略。八○年代台灣婦女運動的先驅者有著教育、階級的優勢與特殊的族群構成,她們選擇基金會等無須草根動員的組織模式,使得其運動路線偏向社會服務、立法與文化宣傳。九○年代新進的運動者及其不同的生命傳記背景與新的組織模式,是推動婦女運動在變遷的政治環境中的新動力。因此,九○年代後期的性政治爭議與政黨認同的衝突,可以被視為是運動者不同的生命傳記背景與政治機會結構的互動,所產生的結果。
Most studies on social movements fail to adequately explain through what kind of mechanisms changing political opportunities influence social movements. I believe that an important reason is that inadequate attention has been given to the role of activists and their biographical backgrounds. Using quantitative survey data and interviews with activists in Taiwan's women's movement, the author explains the trajectory of that movement during Taiwan's democratic transition. The central argument consists of two parts. First, the activists' biographical backgrounds played an important role in shaping the movement's organizational repertoire, tactics, and choice of issues. Specifically, the activists' biographical backgrounds influenced the choice to use organizational models that did not require grass roots mobilization (e.g., publishing houses, social service organizations, and foundations), yet they also developed a party-neutral lobbying strategy to accompany the emphasis on social service and cultural advocacy. Second, changing political opportunities, especially the shift from authoritarianism to democracy, should not be considered a neutral factor among activists from different backgrounds. Consequently, activists should be viewed as the primary intervening variable impacting the movement's interactions with changing political opportunities.