Social change is a change in society over time. The key characteristics in social change are: a constant state of change; the changes take place both as a planned act and of their own volition and the changes are controversial and vary in the importance. For example; changes in hairstyle and fashion are often controversial but aren’t of great significance.

An example of social change is the Women Suffrage movement when women joined together to demand the right to be treated as citizens with a focus on the right to vote. Women marched and gave speeches to bring attention to their plight of being treated as less than citizens.

The Civil Rights movement was a key social movement in the history of the United States. Civil Rights activists took a stand against the injustice of racial discrimination by using protests and marches. Other more violent incidents such as rioting and the Kent State shootings helped to escalate the issues.

The movement for Women’s Rights began about the same time. In protest against gender discrimination women, burned their bras and demanded more rights such as equal pay for equal work. These women were active in demanding a social change.

The current social movement on environmental awareness is focused on education of the public on environmental concerns and a sustainable Earth. With rare exceptions of violence and sabotage, this movement is encouraging change instead of demanding it.

Modernity is the social change affected by the movement of a society from primarily agriculturally based to industrial based. One change that is a characteristic of modernity is the decline of small, close-knit communities. Rural populations decrease while urban population increases. The urban population in the United States increased from 40% in 1900 to 80% in 2000.

Urban living by definition, leads to less traditional social relationships and more individualism. Society becomes more open to individualism and diversity increases. Society becomes more oriented towards the future. Pre-industrial societies were focused on the past and past traditions. In short, modernity heralds the decline of all things traditional.

Another indication of modernity is the division of labor. Occupations become highly specialized and there is a wider gap in the skills required between the average workers and higher paying specialized occupations

The German sociologist, Max Weber allocated a key feature of modernity to be rationalization. Actions are based on rational thought such as purely scientific knowledge and the profit margin in lieu of traditional beliefs. Modernity decreases moral values and social interaction. It increases self-interest and mental isolation.