“This is wrong.” “You need to change your ways.” “We cannot let this happen again.”
You’ve probably heard statements like this before. In fact, we all have. However, not all of us get to say this as much as we would like to or denounce something even we really, really want to.
Why is this so? The common causes for this fear of speaking out comes due to fear of backlash from our peers, society or even the organisational structures we live in. This fear can cause some of us to experience a delay in getting what we want, what other people need and the treatment that some of us deserve that we have not been receiving.
As much as we would like to keep speaking out what needs to change around us, we also need to ask ourselves, “how much will we choose to say?” “Am I prepared for what happens next?” “If I choose to speak out, how can I guarantee a maximum amount of impact to those who will benefit?”
Even though speaking out seems like the right thing to do, and it is, whether it is on behalf of others or people like ourselves, will play a role in shaping the outcome.
Often, people who are in a more privileged position have more power to speak on behalf of others. This privilege can mean they have a powerful influence within the community and that the weight of their words will mean something to the conflicting party that may affect or contribute to change.
Who has this privilege? This can come from individuals of the majority demographic, those with a certain amount of assets and financial resources, leader of a group or sort, with a degree and more.
Minorities need people from the majority to speak out on behalf of them because it helps to make the case in point and there will be lesser implications for the majority than if those of the minority community were to do so. This need extends to people of a racial minority, gender & sexuality orientation, with a disability, national origin and more.
How can we start? We can look around us and pay attention to what is going on around us. Who needs help? Why and what do they need? How can we help?
One good example is to see how the people in your community are doing. In Malaysia, the unemployment rate is sitting at 4.8% according to media outlets and up to 49% of small, micro and medium enterprises were said to be facing a risk of closure. By not facing the economic and social implications that play a role in threatening livelihoods and businesses this pandemic and beyond, we have the privilege of not bearing the weight of the challenge, giving us the opportunity to speak out against the challenges on behalf of others.
When we can understand the challenges in our own backyard and start addressing them in a way that represents the situation and the people adequately, only then can we better do the same for others.
With the recent happenings in Afghanistan where the Taliban overtook the capital of Kabul, the livelihoods of Afghans continue to call the need for a more inclusive and representative governance, security and their rights to be addressed. As global citizens who did not go through the same thing as the people of Afghanistan, we can take the time to get to know their story and understand why they need what they need right now.
While financial resources are a useful and essential way to give back to the worthy causes, we can also lend people our ears, eyes and voice. If we have the privilege of not facing these current circumstances, we can use our eyes and ears to read, watch and hear their stories (and really listen), as well as our voices to amplify people who cannot speak for themselves. Then, not only will we be part of the greater movement to empower progress and change, but empower others alike to do the same for themselves and their communities.
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Petitions
Afghanistan:
Create safe passages from Afghanistan
Malaysia:
petiteshark 