#ActionsInformCulture Newsletter (06.24.20)
The world is in a state of disequilibrium, and we're all working on finding solutions for moving forward and building back better. We know that systemic change can often seem out of our individual control, but the reality is that it's not. Every action we take, every word we say, every thought we have can influence the world around us.
That's what #ActionsInformCulture is all about. Our individual actions do collectively inform our culture. We are taught to conform to societal standards—a uniquely human trait taught to us at as young as 2 years old. Conformity is meant to protect us from harm in social interactions; however, it can also prevent important progress from being made.
Police brutality, for example, has always been an issue. In fact, approximately 1,100 people are killed by police officers every year in the United States—a number that has remained relatively stagnant over the past decade. However, now that these killings have gained vast national attention after the death of George Floyd, more people are posting about this on social media, attending protests, and calling their representatives to demand change.
But the action shouldn't stop there. Police brutality is just the beginning. The systems that currently oppress minorities and women must be transformed. The mass incarceration of Black and brown people is unacceptable. The denial of LGBTQ+ people to adopt children or have healthcare is unacceptable. Sexual assault and harassment in colleges, the workplace, and anywhere else is unacceptable.
So, how do we, as individuals, shift our culture? By speaking up, even if no one else does. In 1964, social psychologists Bibb Latané and John Darley popularized the bystander effect, the concept that when there are more passive witnesses to a dire scenario, it's less likely that an individual will go against the crowd, and take action. This bystander effect can have extreme consequences for the victim. Therefore, instead of following the crowd, take actions like these:
If someone makes a transphobic comment, speak up and explain to them why and how the comment was offensive. Speaking up shows that transphobia isn't culturally acceptable.
Engage friends, family, and other peer groups in conversation about the broken social dynamics that disproportionately enable and encourage men - and even make them feel entitled - to pursue women and girls in aggressive ways, and talk about what needs to be done differently. Your conversations could change lives.
If we can shift our cultural norms and prevent violence from occurring, we will create a welcoming environment where racism, sexism, homophobia, and bigotry are not tolerated. #ActionsInformCulture.