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“A mother’s place is in the rebellion”: Examining the Nonviolent Resistance of the Swedish Climate Activist Group Rebellmammorna

Sundberg, Etel LU (2025) FKVK02 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis examines how the Swedish climate activist group Rebellmammorna perform nonviolent resistance through the lens of micro-sociology and the concept of maternal activism. As a branch of Extinction Rebellion (XR), Rebellmammorna mobilize around a maternalist frame, using peaceful protest tactics such as silent sit-ins, slow marches, and symbolic acts to demand urgent climate action. While climate activism has received growing scholarly attention, less focus has been placed on movements that distance themselves from civil disobedience and confrontation. Based on a qualitative case study design, the study combines video data analysis (VDA) and in-depth interviews with movement members, revealing how motherhood serves as a unifying and... (More)
This thesis examines how the Swedish climate activist group Rebellmammorna perform nonviolent resistance through the lens of micro-sociology and the concept of maternal activism. As a branch of Extinction Rebellion (XR), Rebellmammorna mobilize around a maternalist frame, using peaceful protest tactics such as silent sit-ins, slow marches, and symbolic acts to demand urgent climate action. While climate activism has received growing scholarly attention, less focus has been placed on movements that distance themselves from civil disobedience and confrontation. Based on a qualitative case study design, the study combines video data analysis (VDA) and in-depth interviews with movement members, revealing how motherhood serves as a unifying and mobilizing identity. The findings suggest that Rebellmammorna perform nonviolent resistance by disrupting the rhythm of public space through interaction rituals that generate emotional energy, solidarity, and collective meaning. In doing so, the thesis shows how their still and peaceful methods not only challenge traditional gender norms but also foster the long-term engagement crucial for building sustained momentum required for climate action. This research contributes empirically to the literature on climate activism and nonviolent resistance, and theoretically by expanding the application of micro-sociological theory to climate movements in democratic societies. (Less)
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author
Sundberg, Etel LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Climate activism, climate change, maternal activism, micro-sociology, nonviolent resistance, Rebellmammorna
language
English
id
9191280
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 11:24:33
date last changed
2025-08-08 11:24:33
@misc{9191280,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines how the Swedish climate activist group Rebellmammorna perform nonviolent resistance through the lens of micro-sociology and the concept of maternal activism. As a branch of Extinction Rebellion (XR), Rebellmammorna mobilize around a maternalist frame, using peaceful protest tactics such as silent sit-ins, slow marches, and symbolic acts to demand urgent climate action. While climate activism has received growing scholarly attention, less focus has been placed on movements that distance themselves from civil disobedience and confrontation. Based on a qualitative case study design, the study combines video data analysis (VDA) and in-depth interviews with movement members, revealing how motherhood serves as a unifying and mobilizing identity. The findings suggest that Rebellmammorna perform nonviolent resistance by disrupting the rhythm of public space through interaction rituals that generate emotional energy, solidarity, and collective meaning. In doing so, the thesis shows how their still and peaceful methods not only challenge traditional gender norms but also foster the long-term engagement crucial for building sustained momentum required for climate action. This research contributes empirically to the literature on climate activism and nonviolent resistance, and theoretically by expanding the application of micro-sociological theory to climate movements in democratic societies.}},
  author       = {{Sundberg, Etel}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“A mother’s place is in the rebellion”: Examining the Nonviolent Resistance of the Swedish Climate Activist Group Rebellmammorna}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}