Social Issues are Political Issues: A Call to Action

We live in an era where the personal is political, and the social issues shaping our lives are deeply influenced by the political systems that govern them. Whether it’s access to healthcare, racial justice or climate action, the progress of social movements is inextricably tied to the people we elect and the policies they enact. To create meaningful, lasting change, we must focus on three key strategies: 

• educating constituencies, 

• sustaining movements amid shifting headlines and 

• collaborating to garner attention and action.

Educating Constituencies: Connecting Personal Values to Political Systems

Too many people compartmentalize their lives, viewing social issues separate from politics. This disconnection is a barrier to change. Advocates can bridge this gap by offering clear, accessible explanations of how policies shape social issues. 

For example, affordable housing—a pressing issue across the U.S.—is often framed as a market failure. But consider data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Only 1 in 4 families who qualify for federal housing assistance receive it due to chronic underfunding of programs like Section 8 housing vouchers. Housing isn’t just an economic issue; it’s a political one, driven by funding decisions made at every level of government.

The housing issue plays out locally across America. For example, both houses of the New York state legislature have, for several years now, debated the efficacy of a Housing Access Voucher Program. The program is designed to directly help New Yorkers who are homeless or at risk of eviction at a cost to taxpayers significantly less than providing temporary shelter and related government-provided services. 

There’s a plethora of information available in support of and opposition to the New York measure that advocates can use to educate their constituencies about the issue of homelessness, but they can’t stop there. They also must educate people about how this social issue is not separate from politics or their daily lives. To do so, they can inform their audiences of:

(a) the attitude of each elected official toward the homeless population, 

(b) the funding interests/priorities of each elected official, and

(c) the effect of each voter’s decision at the ballot box based on this issue; how could a voter’s pocketbook be affected by the elected official?

Similarly, in healthcare, studies show that about half of U.S. adults struggle with medical debt, a burden often exacerbated by state-level decisions about Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Constituents need to understand that these struggles aren’t inevitable—they’re policy choices.

An annual Pew Research Center survey found that 63% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans think the government does too little to help children. According to KFF, 40% of Medicaid enrollees are children—but they account for just 17% of spending. Moreover, spending for the group with the highest per-enrollee cost (defined as “people with disabilities”) is “seven times greater than the spending for children, the group with the lowest per-enrollee costs.” 

These attitudes spring from policy decisions—policies created not by the federal government alone. “Medicaid is administered by states within broad federal rules and jointly funded by states and the federal government.” (KFF) As a result, state spending on healthcare varies widely: “Wyoming spent the most on health and hospitals at $3,404 per capita, followed by the District of Columbia ($2,449), South Carolina ($1,915), Alabama ($1,813), and Kansas ($1,768). New Hampshire spent the least per capita ($211), followed by Arizona ($343), Maine ($358), South Dakota ($364) and West Virginia ($532).” (Urban Institute)

Child, family and healthcare advocates can educate constituents about where their state falls in relation to others and the influence their state politicians have on local healthcare and child/family spending. 

Advocates must offer clear, accessible explanations to bridge gaps in the public’s understanding of how politics and government policies affect social issues and their daily lives. Showing examples can make these links tangible and inspire voters to social and civic action. 

By equipping people with knowledge, organizations can empower their audiences to demand action from leaders at the ballot box and beyond.

Sustaining Movements Amid Changing Headlines

The rapid pace of today’s media cycle presents a daunting challenge for social movements. Consider the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests: According to a Pew Research study, 67% of Americans supported the movement at its peak in June 2020, but this number dropped to 55% by September as media attention waned. Sustaining momentum requires more than temporary engagement; it demands strategic planning and a long-term vision.

One key strategy for sustained momentum is to build resilience through grassroots infrastructure. Organizations must invest in training local leaders, creating physical and virtual spaces for ongoing dialogue, and using digital tools to keep supporters engaged beyond moments of crisis.

Another approach is tying movements to evergreen issues that don’t fade with the headlines. For example, climate activists have effectively linked extreme weather events to systemic inaction on climate policy, maintaining pressure on leaders regardless of media cycles. By focusing on how these issues intersect with everyday life—health, safety and economic stability—movements can remain relevant and urgent.

Today, many movements must contend with an onslaught of misinformation spread primarily via social media, especially during a crisis. By ensuring audiences know where to turn for accurate information on a social issue every day and especially during a crisis, movements can help groups and communities “withstand, adapt to and recover from” crises and natural disasters, bolstering community resilience. (Sustainable Cities & Societies) 

Collaborating for Public, Media, and Political Attention

No movement succeeds in isolation. Every person’s life is affected by innumerable influences; no single issue defines an individual, and movements cannot act as though they exist in a vacuum. Collaborating with other advocacy groups amplifies impact by bringing together diverse perspectives and resources and expanding audiences. 

For instance, partnerships between grassroots organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and legal groups like Lambda Legal drove the successful push for marriage equality in the U.S. This collaboration resulted in landmark victories, including the 2015 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Data underscores the importance of coalition-building. According to a study by the Harvard Kennedy School, advocacy campaigns with multi-sector partnerships are 60% more likely to achieve policy wins than those without. By working together, organizations can amplify their messages to reach broader audiences, combining the emotional resonance of personal stories with the credibility of data and research.

Collaboration also means engaging traditional and social media strategically. A September 2024 report from the Pew Research Center found that 54% of adults at least sometimes get their news from social media, up slightly from previous years, and an October Pew report found that “Republicans are now nearly as likely to trust the information that comes from social media sites as they are to trust information from national news organizations, … [and] the same pattern appears among young adults.” 

By helping trusted news outlets and journalists understand the issue better, advocates can ensure their stories are told accurately and widely. At the same time, movements must harness the power of direct communication through digital platforms to reach their audiences without intermediaries. Accuracy is paramount to maintain credibility.

Finally, political engagement is essential. Sustained pressure on policymakers through town halls, petitions and voter mobilization creates accountability. A 2017 study by the Congressional Management Foundation revealed that personal stories shared by constituents are the most influential factor in shaping lawmakers' decisions, more so than lobbying or data alone.

The Call to Action

Social issues are political issues, and political issues are personal. Many of the struggles we face—whether they’re economic, environmental or social—are the result of choices made by those in power. 

A philosophy professor in southern California teaches his students the following:

“People from all across the political spectrum argue that for the good of the country, particular policies should be supported …. Yet, what does ‘good’ mean? … The question of the good has already been answered by those in power … [and] as citizens of a free society, we have a right to critically evaluate the political choices of those in power.” 

It is up to your organization and social movement to equip people in America to “critically evaluate” those choices. To create a society that reflects your interests and values of justice and equity, you must educate the public, sustain movements and collaborate for the greatest impact.

The next time you talk about a cause you care about, ask yourself: What policies need to change? Who has the power to make those changes? And how can my organization work with others to hold them accountable?

The answers to these questions will shape the future of social movements.