Blog #8: EOTO

Overton Window

    The Overton Window can be defined as society’s acceptance of ideas as they evolve over time. As the narrative of a certain issue transforms, people’s ideologies and beliefs reflect the change in attitude. Not only is it centered around the acceptance of new ideas but the rejection of old norms. The Overton Window is also the basis of politics and what policies are enacted to keep up with society’s demands. The theory behind it is that politicians are restricted regarding what policies they can support or not support as they risk a loss of supporters if they decide to seek ideas that are not seen as acceptable options by society. The Overton Window can also coincide with Roger's Diffusion of Innovations and the phases that people respond to. While the Overton Window reflects the transformation of what is politically possible, Roger's Diffusion of Innovations correlates to the momentum of a certain product or idea. The Overton Window starts from the range of unthinkable and continues on to radical, acceptable, sensible, popular, and ends in policy. The person who came up with this, Joseph Overton, a famous libertarian, whose sole purpose was to shift the Overton Window and to aid the mainstream towards unpopular ideas. He recommended, “not to advocate for minor, incremental changes to an already accepted idea, but to make the case for a currently ‘unthinkable’ idea” according to this article. With logical explanations and supported material, people would eventually be more open to these ideas.

    When we hear our parents say, “back in my generation”, it truly supports a different era with distinct values and beliefs that are not common among our time. When we think about gay marriage, interracial marriages, or civil rights in general, the narrative in the past seems completely radical and not at all what’s accepted today. Though as time went on and phenomenons occurred the mindset surged towards a more enlightened thinking. In regards to civil rights, segregation of races was a prevalent way of life up until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which, “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin” according to this article. This wasn’t even 60 years ago where people of different color were restricted from coexisting with one another. This ideology of racism is completely unacceptable as society will not allow this narrative. Though it took a gradual change as society forbid slavery, banned segregation, allowed interracial marriage, and authorized the voting of every citizen regardless of race. As the public grew towards a new world-view, the policies enacted reflected that movement.

    In regards to how generations are broken down, the four most recent are Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z according to this article. Baby Boomers who are born between 1946 to 1964, lived through post WWII, the Cold War, and the hippie era. Generation X, people born between 1965 to 1980, experienced the Watergate scandal and a rise of personal computing. Millennials, those born between 1980 and 1996 witnessed The Great Recession, 9/11, and the rise of social media. Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2015, encountered the boom of smartphones, social media, a global pandemic, Black Lives Matter movement and never knowing a country not at war. In regards to all of these shaping events, it’s inevitable to have a wide range of conflicting beliefs among generations. These phenomenons occurring in different eras is the culminating factor that shifts the Overton Window.

    Just as we debate over the merits of vaccination, abortion, and climate change, under the notion of the Overton Window, the stance of these issues could possibly be stabalized in the future. I believe that it affects everyone as a whole because our beliefs and values are consistently being challenged as current events occur and we are more exposed to a different way of thinking when we watch the news, surf the internet, or scroll through our social media. Without even realizing it, what we believed to be right 5 years ago can be completely changed today.