Publication Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Rodgers, Diane M.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Sociology

Abstract

Book bans in the 2020s have seen a dramatic increase across the United States, with a major contributing factor being Social Movement Organizations (SMO) led by parents. My research looks at these parents' rights SMOs’ online presence through their social media and websites by analyzing the frames, counter frames, and realignments in regard to the 2020s book ban issue. Through a content analysis of three prominent parent rights SMOs (Moms for America, Defending Education, Moms for Liberty), I collected and analyzed data from their X, Facebook, YouTube, and respective websites. Coding the data using grounded and visual grounded theory, I conducted an in-depth analysis of the findings. This analysis brings to light that these parent rights SMOs throughout the 2020s have become more rationalized and bureaucratized in their book banning agenda. This is done through attempted school board takeovers, legislation, and political ties. They maintain their grassroots image while their connections create a more bureaucratized/rationalized approach to book banning. In reaction to counter frames by opposing groups, parent rights SMOs frame realignment includes the idea that they are just “removing” books from public schools and not book banning. My research contributes to the sociological literature of censorship as well as frame realignments of SMOs through analyzing the parent rights social movement organizations involved in book banning.

Extent

102 pages

Language

en

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Included in

Sociology Commons

Share

COinS