The Solution Proposed

Abstract

The third component of a collective action frame is articulation, meaningfully interconnecting diverse events and experiences to encourage social action. Articulation must connect the punctuation and attribution elements. The objective is to create a solution to the problems based on the causes. In the Male Academy debate, the discourse reflects that two key solutions emerged: one legal and one socio-political. The legal solution was a result of the district judge’s decision preventing the Male Academy from opening as initially proposed by the Detroit School Board. As a result of the preliminary injunction, there was a settlement agreement between the Detroit School Board and the Black female plaintiffs, negotiated by NOWLDF and the ACLU. The settlement agreement was part of the operation of the disciplinary domain within the structural domain of the legal system. The settlement negotiations involved determining the practices and policies for admitting girls. The settlement was seen as undermining the objective of the Male Academy—an all-male environment based on masculinity and patriarchy. As a result, the supporters felt that it was important to engage in collective action to undermine the objective of the settlement agreement. This collective action formed the basis for the second solution.