EXPLAINING THE POLITICAL AND PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES OF PROTEST

We examine the consequences of social movement participation for late 1960s and early 1970s activists, most of whom participated in the anti war, student, and civil rights protests. After providing an explanator y framework for understanding how social movement participation might have continuing influence across a number of social realms, we test wh ether run-of-the-mill participation in the antiwar and student protest s of the late 1960s had an impact. Using data from the Youth-Parent So cialization Panel Study, we show how demonstrators differed from nonac tivists in two time periods: shortly after their movement experiences in 1973; and when they were in their mid-thirties in 1982. Controlling for the factors that predict becoming a protester, we explore the inf luence of activism on: (I) politics; (2) status attainment; (3) religi on; and (4) family. We find that controlling for factors that predict protest participation, these typical activists are significantly diffe rent from their nonactivist counterparts. Specifically, former protest ers hold more liberal political orientations and are more aligned with liberal parties and actions; select occupations in the ''new class''; are more educated; hold less traditional religious orientations and a re less attached to. religious organizations; marry later; and are les s likely to have children.