“Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.”

— Jochen Zeitz

In a world faced with saddening rates of deforestation, coral reef acidification, and more, it is easy to lose hope that any single individual could meaningfully contribute to conservation efforts. 

This, however, is one of the tragic misconceptions of our time. 

Actually, there are several ways a single individual can leverage their efforts to generate a larger impact.

Why You Think You Can’t “Meaningfully Contribute” to Conservation…And Why You’re Wrong

In 2024, about half the world’s population will see national elections. 

With this global shift in power, there is also a global epidemic of individuals believing their vote doesn’t matter. 

This is, however, a tragic misconception. 

Consider the model used in this 80,000 Hours article, “if the US government discretionary spending is $6.4 trillion over four years, and you have a 1 in 10 million chance of changing the outcome of the national election, then in expectation you have some degree of influence over $640,000 of government spending.”

So, your vote is worth $640,000. Is that enough to justify taking an hour out to vote, and more time to inform yourself about the candidates?

For most, the answer is yes. 

So what?

Most people think about conservation the same way. 

“I cannot change the entire world by myself, so I will not change any part of the world at all.” 

Perhaps the first part of this argument is true- it’s rare that one individual has a deep impact globally, all on their own. 

However, the work of individuals could often be enough to change very large portions of space, maybe even entire cities. 

If you could be the difference between 10 acres of wild, would that be a meaningful enough contribution? Would it matter?

I think so. 

#1: Create Urban Wildlife Corridors.

Urban wildlife corridors are small corridors in cities- such as backyards, abandoned lots, local parks, beaches, etc.- that have been repurposed to connect fragmented habitats with each other. 

So what?

Well, when habitats are continuously broken down into smaller and smaller areas, it becomes increasingly difficult for wildlife to access water, food, and mates. 

The global effect of this (in an increasingly urbanized world) is a staggering decrease in biodiversity. 

Usually though, creating large urban wildlife corridors is a challenge due to the number of property owners and stakeholders involved. 

Nevertheless, even a small wildlife corridor- a backyard, a front garden, or a community park- can make a sizable difference to the biodiversity of your community. 

Furthermore, it will encourage other individuals to do the same, creating a wave of impact on countless species. 

#2: Participate in Citizen Science Projects

According to the British Ecological Society, citizen science can be generally defined as “the involvement of volunteers in research”.  

While this means citizen scientists can help out at any stage in the process, usually they help out with data collection and analysis. 

The work of citizen scientists, ultimately, provides a highly valued resource to the scientific community, giving them the ability to develop much larger datasets than scientists would be able to capture alone. 

The best part?

Getting involved in initiatives like this is super easy!

No matter where you live, there are several citizen science apps you can download on your phone, programs you can join, and scientists you can support to generate eco-friendly innovation. 

Just choose an area you are passionate about, and get started. 

#3: Create & Distribute Seed Bombs

For anyone unacquainted with seed bombs, they likely sound like a classified weapon used by the military. 

In reality, they  are little balls of compost, water, clay, and (you guessed it) seeds. 

They are used by passionate eco warriors and guerrilla gardeners to reintroduce native species into neglected areas, promoting biodiversity and enhancing green space. 

In fact, they have been used since the seventies, the idea originating in New York. 

Originally, the term was “seed grenade”, and it was made of wildflower seeds, water, and fertilizer, all wrapped in a condom. These seed grenades were tossed over fences into empty lots, reintroducing life, beauty, and nature into even the most depressing urban wastelands. 

Fortunately, you can easily carry on this charming tradition without any condoms. 

Just combine 5 parts clay with 1 part compost in a large bowl, gradually adding water and mixing until you have a consistency similar to dough. Then, you add in 1 part seeds of your choice, although preferably seeds that are local to the area. Next, you roll the mixture into balls the size of a marble, and wait for them to dry. This will take one to two days. 

Once they’re dry, distribute them!

Ideally, the seed bombs are best for areas that are hard to reach, neglected, or in need of greenery. This includes empty lots, roadside verges, or bare patches of soil. 

Before you know it, you will have turned the concrete cityscape into a natural oasis. 

#4: Crowdfund for local conservation. 

Crowdfunding is about putting the power in your hands. 

Instead of hoping big funding bodies will deem your area of interest “important” enough to fund, you fund the project yourself. 

Whether it’s a particular species, a habitat in your local community, or a certain organization close to your heart, crowdfunding can be a powerful way to make an impact on conservation efforts you care about. 

Not a billionaire?

Don’t sweat it. 

Crowdfunding for conservation efforts can be as simple as asking for a donation instead of a birthday present, doing a series of social media posts, or putting up a poster in a nearby public space (e.g. cafe or library). 

It’s easy to get started, so why not give it a shot?

#5: Adopt a beach or park. 

Last, but not least, an effective way to make a meaningful contribution to conservation efforts is through adopting a beach or a park. 

This allows you to expand your awareness of your local habitats, facilitate pollution prevention, and enjoy the instant gratification of seeing your beach or park visibly cleaner than before. 

You don’t need to be part of a large group to do this. In fact, all that is required is a single individual, or perhaps even a single household. 

Just pick a site nearby, and usually you will be required to commit three days of the year to cleanup before receiving an adoption certificate. 

It’s easy, and it makes a clear visible difference!

Your meaningful contribution starts today. 

With these unique and actionable tips, you will be equipped to make a meaningful impact in your community. 

So what are the next steps?

Simple! Just pick one of the ideas listed, and try applying it. 

Test it out, then try something else. 

Whether you make a single seed bomb, adopt miles of local greenery, or create urban wildlife corridors all around your city, your impact will make a difference. It will matter. It will be meaningful. 

Most of all, it will show others that change is possible, and inspire them to take action too. 

Thought to Action

1. Create Urban Wildlife Corridors: Work with local residents, schools, and businesses to plant native plants in strategic locations, such as backyards, road medians, or unused public land. Native plants are crucial as they provide food and shelter for local wildlife. Encourage residents to create habitats that support wildlife, including native plants, bird feeders, and water features, effectively turning backyards into a network of wildlife corridors.
2. Participate in Citizen Science: Look for citizen science projects in your area or online platforms like iNaturalist, eBird, or Zooniverse, where you can contribute data on local wildlife, plants, or environmental conditions.
3. Create & Distribute Seed Bombs: Mix clay, compost, and native wildflower seeds into small balls. The clay helps protect the seeds until they’re ready to germinate, and the compost provides nutrients. These can be made in bulk at community events or workshops.
4. Adopt a Beach or a Park: Select a local beach, park, or other natural area that could benefit from regular maintenance and conservation efforts. Contact local authorities or conservation organizations to formally adopt the area.Plan monthly or quarterly clean-ups with volunteers to remove trash, invasive species, and other debris. Provide participants with gloves, bags, and tools, and arrange for proper disposal of collected waste. Beyond clean-ups, work on projects like planting native vegetation, installing bird boxes, or creating educational signage about local wildlife and conservation efforts.
5. Crowdfund For Local Conservation: Find a specific conservation project that requires funding, such as purchasing land for a nature reserve, restoring a habitat, or funding research on local wildlife.

Sources

Check your sources!

“2024: The Year of Global Elections – Ash Center.” Ash Center, 5 June 2024, ash.harvard.edu/resources/2024-the-year-of-global-elections/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Agar, Chloe. “10 Ways to Get Involved with Citizen Science.” Grow Wild, 11 Mar. 2024, growwild.kew.org/blog/10-ways-get-involved-citizen-science. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Blue Ocean Society For Marine Conservation. Adopt-a-Beach Handbook. Blue Ocean Society For Marine Conservation.

Borrell, James. “Crowdfunding Conservation: 10 Inspiring Projects.” Dr. James Borrell, 2016, www.jamesborrell.com/crowdfunding-conservation-10-inspiring-projects/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Cave, Lydia. “Wildlife Corridors in Urban Habitats – Wild Ideas.” Wild Ideas, 24 Oct. 2020, www.wild-ideas.org.uk/2020/10/24/wildlife-corridors-in-urban-habitats/.

Darrah, Petrina. “Here’s Why Citizen Science Is Important, and How You Can Contribute – GVI | GVI.” Www.gvi.co.uk, 5 Oct. 2022, www.gvi.co.uk/blog/heres-why-citizen-science-is-important-and-how-you-can-contribute/.

Eliades, Angelo. “How to Make and Use Seed Bombs: A Complete Guide for Green Guerrillas.” Deep Green Permaculture, 30 Aug. 2024, deepgreenpermaculture.com/2024/08/31/how-to-make-and-use-seed-bombs-a-complete-guide-for-green-guerrillas/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Fenwick, Cody. “Does Your Vote Matter? What the Research Says.” 80,000 Hours, 21 June 2024, 80000hours.org/2024/06/does-your-vote-matter-what-the-research-says/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Global Forest Watch. “Global Deforestation Rates & Statistics by Country | GFW.” Www.globalforestwatch.org, 2022, www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/global/.

Goodey, Jan. “How and Why to Make Seedbombs.” The Ecologist, 24 Mar. 2023, theecologist.org/2010/may/18/how-and-why-make-seedbombs. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

“How to Make a Seed Bomb | the Wildlife Trusts.” Wildlifetrusts.org, 2019, www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-make-seed-bomb. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Land-Zandstra, Anne, et al. “Participants in Citizen Science.” The Science of Citizen Science, 2021, pp. 243–259, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58278-4_13. Accessed 21 Oct. 2021.

Padfield, Amy. “Citizen Science Hub.” British Ecological Society, www.britishecologicalsociety.org/learning-and-resources/engaging-the-public/citizen-science-hub/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

“Urban Wildlife Corridors: Building Bridges for Wildlife and People | Urban Agenda Platform.” Urbanagendaplatform.org, 2022, www.urbanagendaplatform.org/resources/urban-wildlife-corridors-building-bridges-wildlife-and-people. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

World Economic Forum. “This Is How Crowdfunding Is Helping to Protect Our Planet.” World Economic Forum, 31 May 2018, www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/05/crowdfunded-campaigns-are-conserving-the-earth-s-environment/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

Your Family or Household Can Be a Solution to Ocean Learn about Pollution Pick a Site… Any Site** Join the Community Science Movement.

Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/green-leafed-tree-38136/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.

The post 5 Secrets from Ecology So You Can Meaningfully Contribute to Conservation Efforts appeared first on Green Also Green.

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Davis

One of the greatest tragedies of modern journalism is the fact that the most pressing social inequities do not get the most attention. 

It’s true that what counts as the “most pressing” social inequities is rather vague and subjective. However, it is almost always true that the stories surrounding what we “should” care about and the actions we “should” take are more complex than we realize. 

Unfortunately though, most consumers of news, social media, articles, books, and podcasts have not been equipped with the right tools to truly discern the root of social inequities and how to decide what are the most effective ways of addressing them. 

So today, we’re going to expose the secrets that great journalists already know. 

You will learn how to see through the smoke and mirrors, read between the lines, and truly uncover, unravel, and make right the greatest social inequities we face today. 

Pixabay. Pexels, www.pexels.com/search/journalism/. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

#1: Follow the Money

Track financial flows to reveal power structures and economic disparities that contribute to social inequities.

Financial flows tell you who is really calling the shots. 

Even if you’re not a journalist, you can apply this principle by conducting research into the funding behind issues you’re passionate about. Who makes money when the problem persists? Who decided it was a problem and why? Do the money, messages, and actions all align?

This involves identifying sources of funding, analyzing budgets, and exploring financial relationships between entities like governments, corporations, and communities. The goal is to uncover who holds power, how that power is exercised through financial means, and how it affects different groups within society.

Steps to Implement:

1. Identify the Issue: Choose a specific social inequity you are concerned about, such as unequal access to education, healthcare disparities, or environmental injustice.
2. Research Funding Sources: Look into where the funding for key organizations or projects related to the issue comes from. This could involve investigating government budgets, corporate donations, or philanthropic grants.
3. Analyze Financial Statements: Review the financial reports or public records of these organizations. Pay attention to how money is allocated and whether the distribution of funds aligns with the needs of marginalized communities.
4. Examine Influence: Investigate any connections between financial contributors and policy decisions. Are there patterns where certain donors or funders have a disproportionate influence on policies that affect social equity?
5. Engage with Public Data: Utilize publicly available data, such as tax records, campaign finance disclosures, or budget documents. These can provide insights into where money is flowing and highlight any discrepancies or imbalances.
6. Compare and Contrast: Look for disparities in funding between different communities or groups. For example, compare the financial resources allocated to schools in affluent areas versus those in underprivileged areas.
7. Share Your Findings: Present your findings through blogs, social media, or community meetings. Use data visualizations like charts or infographics to make the information accessible and compelling.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you’re concerned about the unequal distribution of education funding in your city. You decide to “follow the money” to understand how this contributes to social inequities.

1. Identify the Issue: You’ve noticed that schools in wealthier neighborhoods seem to have more resources than those in poorer areas.
2. Research Funding Sources: You start by examining your local government’s education budget. You find that public schools are funded by both state funds and local property taxes.
3. Analyze Financial Statements: By comparing the budgets of schools in different neighborhoods, you discover that schools in wealthier areas receive significantly more funding due to higher property tax revenues.
4. Examine Influence: Further research reveals that parents in affluent areas are also able to fundraise more effectively, leading to additional resources that schools in poorer areas lack.
5. Engage with Public Data: You access and analyze public records, such as school district financial reports and property tax assessments, to gather concrete data on the funding disparities.
6. Compare and Contrast: You compare the per-student funding in schools across different neighborhoods and find a clear disparity that correlates with the socioeconomic status of each area.
7. Share Your Findings: You compile your research into a blog post with charts showing the funding disparities and suggest potential policy changes, such as equitable redistribution of funds or increased state funding for under-resourced schools.

#2: Understand Historical Context

Investigate the historical roots of current social inequities to provide context and depth to your reporting.

Understanding how past policies, practices, and societal norms have shaped present-day issues, provides you with a deeper and more informed perspective on why these inequities exist and persist. 

This helps to reveal the roots of inequality and the long-term impact of historical injustices.

You can apply this principle by researching the historical events and policies related to the social issues you care about. This might involve studying historical records, reading academic articles, or talking to people who have lived through relevant events. 

The aim is to understand the broader context that has led to the current situation, allowing you to see the connections between past and present inequalities.

Steps to Implement:

1. Identify the Issue: Choose a specific social inequity, such as racial discrimination in housing, gender wage gaps, or environmental injustice.
2. Research Historical Background: Start by researching the history related to the issue. Look into laws, policies, social movements, and historical events that have influenced the current state of affairs.
3. Consult Primary Sources: Access primary sources such as historical documents, archives, newspapers, and government records to gather firsthand information about past events and policies.
4. Seek Expert Opinions: Read works by historians, sociologists, and other scholars who have studied the issue. Their analyses can provide deeper insights into how historical factors have shaped current inequities.
5. Analyze Continuities and Changes: Identify how historical practices and policies have evolved over time and how their legacies continue to impact the issue today. Look for patterns that have persisted and those that have changed.
6. Contextualize the Present: Use your historical understanding to explain how current social inequities are rooted in past events. This can help you and others see that these issues are not isolated but part of a larger historical continuum.
7. Share and Educate: Share your findings with others, whether through writing, presentations, or discussions. Educate your community on the historical roots of the issues you’re investigating to foster a deeper understanding and more informed dialogue.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you’re concerned about racial disparities in home ownership in your city. You decide to “understand historical context” to explore how these disparities have developed over time.

1. Identify the Issue: You notice that Black and minority communities in your city have lower rates of home ownership compared to white communities.
2. Research Historical Background: You begin by researching the history of housing policies in your city and country. You discover that during the 20th century, practices like redlining—where banks and insurance companies refused to offer loans or insurance to people in certain neighborhoods, often based on race—were common.
3. Consult Primary Sources: You find historical maps, government records, and documents showing how neighborhoods were segregated and how certain areas were deemed “high risk” for investment, often coinciding with areas where Black families lived.
4. Seek Expert Opinions: You read articles and books by historians and urban studies scholars who have analyzed the long-term effects of redlining and housing discrimination.
5. Analyze Continuities and Changes: You observe that although redlining was officially banned in the late 1960s, its effects are still visible today in the form of lower property values, reduced investment, and limited access to mortgages in historically redlined areas.
6. Contextualize the Present: You use this historical context to explain how the racial disparities in home ownership today are directly linked to these discriminatory practices, which have had a lasting impact on wealth accumulation and community development.
7. Share and Educate: You create a presentation or write an article explaining how the history of redlining has contributed to the current disparities in home ownership. You may present this information at a community meeting or share it online to raise awareness and spark discussions about potential solutions.

#3: Identify Gatekeepers

Recognize and approach individuals who control access to crucial information or communities, understanding their role in either obstructing or facilitating your investigation.

Gatekeepers can be people in positions of authority, community leaders, or organizations that have the power to either obstruct or facilitate access to the information and networks you need to uncover social inequities. 

Understanding their role and establishing a relationship with them is crucial for gaining the insights and access necessary for effective investigation.

Identify and approach key individuals or organizations that hold influence over the information or communities related to the social issue you’re investigating. 

This involves building relationships, understanding their motives, and determining how they can either help or hinder your efforts. 

Steps to Implement:

1. Identify the Issue: Choose a social inequity you want to explore, such as access to healthcare, educational disparities, or workers’ rights.
2. Map Out Influencers: Research and list the key individuals, organizations, or institutions that influence or control access to the information or communities relevant to your issue. These could be local government officials, community leaders, non-profits, or even media outlets.
3. Understand Their Role: Investigate the role these gatekeepers play in the issue. Do they have the power to provide access to important data, or are they influential figures within affected communities? Understand their interests, motivations, and potential biases.
4. Approach Gatekeepers Strategically: Develop a plan to approach these gatekeepers. Consider how to present your intentions in a way that aligns with their interests or values. Building trust is key, so be transparent about your goals and respectful of their role.
5. Build Relationships: Establish and nurture relationships with gatekeepers. This might involve attending community meetings, setting up one-on-one meetings, or engaging with them through social media or other communication channels.
6. Leverage Their Influence: Once you’ve built a relationship, seek their assistance in gaining access to information, communities, or networks. They might introduce you to key individuals, grant access to restricted data, or offer insights that deepen your understanding of the issue.
7. Evaluate Their Impact: Assess how the gatekeepers’ influence affects the issue. Are they part of the solution, or do they contribute to the problem? This understanding will help you navigate the complexities of their involvement and plan your next steps.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you are concerned about disparities in access to quality healthcare in a low-income community. You decide to “identify gatekeepers” to gain access to information and communities that will help you understand and address this issue.

1. Identify the Issue: You focus on the lack of access to quality healthcare services in a low-income neighborhood in your city.
2. Map Out Influencers: You identify several potential gatekeepers, including the director of a local health clinic, a community organizer who works with low-income families, and a city council member who represents the area.
3. Understand Their Role: You research the director of the local health clinic, the community organizer, and the city council member.
4. Approach Gatekeepers Strategically: You reach out to the community organizer first, as they are likely to be more approachable and can help introduce you to the other gatekeepers. You explain your interest in understanding the healthcare challenges in the neighborhood and ask for their insights.
5. Build Relationships: You attend a community meeting organized by the community leader and begin to build rapport.
6. Leverage Their Influence: The community organizer introduces you to several families willing to share their experiences with the healthcare system. The clinic director provides anonymized data on patient demographics and common health issues in the neighborhood. The city council member shares information on upcoming policy discussions related to healthcare funding.
7. Evaluate Their Impact: Through your interactions, you realize that the clinic is underfunded due to systemic biases in healthcare funding, and the city council member has been advocating for increased resources. However, the organizer highlights that some community members distrust the healthcare system due to past neglect. This informs your understanding of the issue and helps you identify potential solutions.

#4: Focus on Impact, Not Just Exposure

Aim for your investigative work to lead to meaningful change, whether through policy reform, public awareness, or other avenues.

Uncovering social inequities should go beyond merely revealing issues. 

The goal is to drive meaningful change, whether that’s through influencing policy reform, raising public awareness, or mobilizing community action. 

It’s about ensuring that the investigation has a tangible effect, contributing to the resolution of the inequities identified.

You can apply this principle by ensuring that your efforts to uncover social inequities are paired with actions aimed at driving change. 

This involves thinking strategically about how your findings can influence decision-makers, inform the public, or empower communities to take action. 

Steps to Implement:

1. Identify the Issue: Choose a social inequity that you want to address, such as food insecurity, lack of access to education, or discrimination in the workplace.
2. Investigate Thoroughly: Conduct your research or investigation into the issue, gathering data, personal stories, and other evidence that highlight the inequity.
3. Define the Desired Impact: Before sharing your findings, decide what change you want to achieve. Do you want to push for policy changes, increase public awareness, or empower affected communities to advocate for themselves?
4. Engage Stakeholders: Identify and engage with stakeholders who can help achieve the desired impact. This could include policymakers, community leaders, activists, or organizations working on related issues.
5. Craft a Clear Message: Tailor your findings into a compelling narrative or report that clearly communicates the issue and the specific actions that need to be taken. Ensure that your message resonates with the stakeholders and the broader public.
6. Choose the Right Platforms: Disseminate your findings through the most effective channels to reach your target audience. This could include social media, community meetings, op-eds in local newspapers, or presentations to decision-makers.
7. Mobilize Support: Work to mobilize support for the change you’re advocating. This might involve organizing community events, starting petitions, or partnering with advocacy groups to amplify your message.
8. Monitor Progress: After your findings are shared, keep track of any changes or developments. Follow up with stakeholders, continue to engage the community, and be ready to take further action if necessary.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you are concerned about the lack of healthy food options in low-income neighborhoods in your city.

1. Identify the Issue: You observe that low-income neighborhoods in your city have few grocery stores and limited access to fresh, healthy food, leading to higher rates of diet-related health problems.
2. Investigate Thoroughly: You conduct research by surveying residents, documenting the scarcity of grocery stores, and collecting data on health outcomes in these neighborhoods compared to more affluent areas.
3. Define the Desired Impact: You decide that the goal of your investigation is to advocate for the establishment of more grocery stores and farmers’ markets in these neighborhoods, as well as the creation of policies that incentivize businesses to offer healthy food options.
4. Engage Stakeholders: You reach out to local government officials, community organizations, and health advocacy groups to inform them of your findings and discuss possible solutions.
5. Craft a Clear Message: You create a report that highlights the health disparities caused by the lack of access to healthy food and propose specific policy changes, such as tax incentives for grocery stores and grants for community gardens.
6. Choose the Right Platforms: You present your findings at a city council meeting, publish an op-ed in the local newspaper, and share infographics on social media to reach a broader audience.
7. Mobilize Support: You organize a community event where residents can voice their concerns to city officials and sign a petition supporting the proposed policy changes. You also collaborate with local health organizations to run a campaign advocating for better food access.
8. Monitor Progress: After the event, you follow up with the city council to track the progress of the proposed policies. You also continue to engage the community through social media updates and additional events to ensure sustained momentum.

#5: Recognize and Address Bias

Be aware of your own biases and those present in your sources, and strive to present a balanced and fair account of the issues.

Bias can color your understanding of social issues, leading to incomplete or skewed conclusions. By actively acknowledging and addressing these biases, you can strive to present a more balanced, fair, and accurate account of the issues at hand.

So what do you need to do? 

Continuously questioning your own assumptions and critically evaluating the sources of information you use in your investigation or advocacy work. 

This involves seeking out diverse perspectives, challenging your own views, and being open to the possibility that your initial understanding of an issue might be incomplete or incorrect. 

Striving for balance and fairness is crucial when uncovering social inequities to ensure that your findings are credible and contribute constructively to the conversation.

Steps to Implement:

1. Identify the Issue: Choose a social inequity that you want to explore or address, such as disparities in educational opportunities, healthcare access, or racial discrimination in the workplace.
2. Reflect on Your Own Biases: Before diving into the issue, take a moment to reflect on your own experiences, beliefs, and assumptions that might influence your perspective. Consider how your background, culture, or personal experiences might shape your view of the issue.
3. Seek Diverse Perspectives: Actively seek out information and viewpoints from a variety of sources, including those that might challenge your own beliefs. This could involve reading materials from different cultural perspectives, interviewing people with different experiences, or consulting experts with varying viewpoints.
4. Critically Evaluate Sources: Examine the credibility and potential biases of the sources you use. Ask yourself who created the information, what their motivations might be, and whether they have a vested interest in a particular narrative.
5. Cross-Check Information: Verify the information you gather by cross-referencing it with multiple sources. Look for consistency in the facts presented and be cautious of any single-source claims that lack corroboration.
6. Challenge Your Assumptions: As you gather information, continuously challenge your initial assumptions. Be open to revising your understanding of the issue as new information comes to light.
7. Present a Balanced View: When sharing your findings, strive to present a well-rounded account of the issue. Acknowledge different perspectives, include voices from all sides, and avoid overemphasizing one viewpoint at the expense of others.
8. Invite Feedback: Share your findings with others and invite feedback, especially from those who might offer a different perspective. This can help you identify any remaining biases and further refine your understanding.

Example of Uncovering Social Inequity:

Suppose you are concerned about racial disparities in employment opportunities within your city.

1. Identify the Issue: You notice that people from certain racial backgrounds seem to have higher unemployment rates and fewer opportunities for advancement in your city.
2. Reflect on Your Own Biases: You reflect on your own background, acknowledging that your personal experiences might influence how you perceive the issue.
3. Seek Diverse Perspectives: You decide to interview a range of people, including those who have experienced racial discrimination in hiring, employers, HR professionals, and experts in employment law. You also read studies and reports from different organizations, some of which may have differing interpretations of the data.
4. Critically Evaluate Sources: As you gather information, you critically assess each source. If you read a report from a business organization claiming there’s no racial bias in hiring, you consider their potential vested interest in downplaying discrimination.
5. Cross-Check Information: You compare the claims made by different sources, looking for patterns and verifying facts across multiple reports.
6. Challenge Your Assumptions: During your research, you encounter data that suggests discrimination might be more subtle and systemic than you initially thought. This challenges your previous assumption that racial disparities in employment were primarily due to overt bias.
7. Present a Balanced View: When you share your findings, you present the evidence you’ve gathered from all sides, including stories from individuals who have faced discrimination, data showing disparities in employment, and perspectives from employers who may not see discrimination as a significant issue.
8. Invite Feedback: After presenting your findings, you share them with a diverse group, including community leaders, academics, and individuals from different backgrounds. You ask for their feedback to ensure your conclusions are fair and balanced.

To Conclude…

Ultimately, the lessons from journalism offer invaluable tools for anyone committed to uncovering and addressing social inequities. 

By following the money, understanding historical context, identifying gatekeepers, focusing on impact, and recognizing and addressing bias, you can approach these complex issues with the depth and rigor they demand. 

These principles, traditionally used by investigative journalists, empower everyday individuals to look beyond surface-level narratives and reveal the underlying structures that perpetuate inequality.

Applying these lessons doesn’t require a journalism degree; it requires curiosity, persistence, and a commitment to justice. 

Whether you’re analyzing local budgets, researching the historical roots of a social issue, or building relationships with key community leaders, you can contribute to a deeper understanding of the inequities that affect our society. 

Ultimately, the principles of investigative journalism provide a powerful framework for anyone looking to make a difference. 

They encourage us to ask tough questions, to dig deeper, and to remain focused on the broader goal of achieving equity and justice. 

In a world where social inequities are often deeply entrenched and complex, these tools can guide us toward uncovering the truth and, more importantly, toward creating a more just and equitable society.

Thought to Action

1. Study Local History: Learn about the historical events and policies that have shaped your community. Identify how these have contributed to current social inequities, such as segregation or zoning laws.
2. Create Action Plans: After uncovering an issue, develop an action plan that includes specific steps the community can take, such as petitioning for policy changes, organizing public forums, or launching awareness campaigns.
3. Diversify Information Sources: Make a habit of reading news and analysis from a wide range of perspectives. Include sources that challenge your views to ensure you’re getting a well-rounded understanding of issues.
4. Write to Elected Officials: Draft letters or emails to your local, state, or national representatives outlining the social inequities you’ve uncovered and suggesting specific policy changes to address them.
5. Start a Petition: Create a petition advocating for a specific change related to the social inequity you’re investigating. Share it with your community and encourage others to sign and share it.

Sources

Check your sources!

“Addressing the Root Causes of Inequality.” UNDP, 2019, www.undp.org/blog/addressing-root-causes-inequality. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Behar, Amitabh. “Here Are 3 Key Actions to Help Bridge the Inequality Gap.” World Economic Forum, 12 Sept. 2023, www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/09/3-key-actions-to-help-bridge-the-inequality-gap/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Chugh, Abhinav, and World Economic Forum. “How Can the World Address Inequality? 7 Experts Explain.” World Economic Forum, 5 July 2021, www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/07/how-can-we-mitigate-inequality-7-experts-explain/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Downman, Scott, and Kasun Ubayasiri. “Introduction to Journalism for Social Change.” Palgrave Macmillan UK EBooks, 1 Jan. 2017, pp. 1–23, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/978-1-349-95179-6_1, https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95179-6_1. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Lewis, Mitzi, and Jeffrey C Neely. “Stories, Students, and Social Justice: Literary Journalism as a Teaching Tool for Change.” Springer EBooks, 1 Jan. 2022, pp. 293–309, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-89420-7_19?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=685769&awc=26429_1724039134_8327e47b9da6c8b675cf8d7ef8d026f7&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=awin&utm_campaign=CONR_BOOKS_ECOM_DE_PBOK_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=685769, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89420-7_19. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Martin. “Reduce Inequality within and among Countries – United Nations Sustainable Development.” United Nations Sustainable Development, 20 Oct. 2023, www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/inequality/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Schmidt, Thomas R. “Challenging Journalistic Objectivity: How Journalists of Color Call for a Reckoning – Thomas R Schmidt, 2024.” Journalism, 2024, journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14648849231160997. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Staines, Zoe, et al. “Social Science as Social Action to Address Inequalities.” Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 59, no. 1, 7 June 2023, pp. 108–127, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajs4.272, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.272. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

“Tips for Reporters Seeking to Reveal the Scale of Inequality.” Gijn.org, 2021, gijn.org/resource/tips-for-reporters-seeking-to-reveal-the-scale-of-inequality/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

The post 5 Lessons from Journalism on How to Uncover Social Inequities appeared first on Green Also Green.

“The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelope our future.”

– John Maynard Keynes

Intro 

There is an unspoken paradox in the world of social innovation: a simultaneous awareness that “money makes the world go round”, but that it is also the “root of all evil”.

Turns out, Madonna got it right- we do live in a material world. 

Indeed, global markets, politics, patterns of consumption,the survival of some businesses over others, and in fact, social innovation, are all ruled by economics. 

Those who grumble at the power generated by the flow of money, arguing that morality and justice should take priority, are missing the point. 

Money is not the source of all evil. Money is a tool. 

So, like most tools, its effects are more contingent on who is using it and how. 

For this reason, it is a top priority for the power of economics to be placed securely into the hands of social innovators- regardless of their background, industry, or nationality.

That is exactly what we are about to do, starting with the 9 lessons below.

Pixabay. Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/numbers-on-monitor-534216/. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.

#1: Incentive Structures

Incentive structures are systems of rewards and penalties that motivate people to behave in certain ways. 

They can be financial (like bonuses or fines), social (like praise or criticism), or moral (like the satisfaction of doing the right thing). 

The idea is that people are more likely to do something if they have a compelling reason to do it. Namely, something that benefits them or helps them avoid a negative outcome.

They are crucial for driving social innovation because they can encourage people and organizations to act in ways that promote social justice. 

By understanding what motivates individuals and groups, we can design policies and programs that align with these motivations to address issues like racism, gender equality, education access, and political unrest.

Steps to Implement Incentive Structures for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Key Behaviors: Determine the specific actions or behaviors that need to change to address the social justice issue.
2. Understand Motivations: Research what motivates the target group (e.g., financial gain, social approval, ethical satisfaction).
3. Design Incentives: Create a system of rewards and penalties that align with these motivations to encourage the desired behaviors.
4. Implement and Monitor: Put the incentive structures in place and continuously monitor their effectiveness, making adjustments as needed.
5. Promote and Educate: Raise awareness about the incentive structures and educate the target audience on how they work and how they can benefit from participating.

#2: Behavioral Economics 

Behavioral economics is a field of study that looks at how people actually make decisions, rather than how they would make decisions if they were always rational and logical. 

It combines insights from psychology and economics to understand why people sometimes make choices that aren’t in their best interest and how those choices can be influenced by various factors.

It’s important for driving social change because it helps us understand the real reasons behind people’s actions and decisions. 

By recognizing these patterns, we can design better policies and programs that encourage positive behaviors and discourage harmful ones. 

Steps to Implement Behavioral Economics for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Behavioral Patterns: Study the behaviors related to the social justice issue you want to address. Understand why people act the way they do.
2. Design Behavioral Interventions: Create interventions that leverage these insights. This could include nudges, incentives, or informational campaigns.
3. Test and Refine: Pilot your interventions on a small scale to see what works. Use data to refine and improve your approach.
4. Implement at Scale: Roll out successful interventions on a larger scale, ensuring they are accessible and effective for the target population.
5. Monitor and Adjust: Continuously monitor the impact of your interventions and make adjustments as necessary to maximize their effectiveness.

#3: Market Failures

Market failure happens when the free market, which is the system where prices are determined by supply and demand, doesn’t work perfectly. 

This means that the market doesn’t allocate resources in the most efficient way, leading to problems like overproduction, underproduction, or unfair distribution of goods and services.

Understanding market failures is important for driving social change because these failures often contribute to social injustices. 

For example, pollution (a negative externality) can disproportionately affect poorer communities, or monopolies can lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers. 

By recognizing where the market fails, we can design policies and interventions to correct these failures and promote fairness and equity.

Steps to Implement Solutions for Market Failures in Social Innovation:

1. Identify the Market Failure: Determine where the market is failing to allocate resources efficiently or fairly, and understand the specific impacts on different social groups.
2. Design Targeted Interventions: Develop policies and programs that directly address these failures. This could include regulations, subsidies, or the provision of public goods.
3. Engage Stakeholders: Work with affected communities, businesses, and government agencies to design and implement effective interventions.
4. Monitor and Evaluate: Continuously assess the impact of your interventions and adjust them as necessary to ensure they are effective and equitable.
5. Educate and Advocate: Raise awareness about market failures and advocate for policies that promote social justice, ensuring that the broader community understands the importance of these interventions.

#4: Coase Theorem

The Coase Theorem is an idea in economics that helps us understand how people and businesses can solve problems involving externalities, which are costs or benefits that affect someone who didn’t choose to be involved in the situation. 

For example, if a factory pollutes a river, the people living nearby suffer from the pollution even though they didn’t cause it. The Coase Theorem suggests that if people can negotiate with each other and if there are no costs to making these negotiations (called transaction costs), they can come to an agreement that solves the problem in the best way for everyone.

The Coase Theorem is relevant to social innovation because it provides a framework for resolving conflicts and externalities through negotiation and cooperation, rather than relying solely on government intervention. 

Steps to Implement Solutions Using the Coase Theorem for Social Innovation:

1. Identify the Externality: Determine the specific problem or externality that needs to be addressed, such as pollution, discrimination, or lack of resources.
2. Establish Clear Property Rights: Ensure that everyone involved knows their rights and responsibilities. This clarity helps in making fair negotiations.
3. Facilitate Negotiations: Create a platform or environment where affected parties can discuss the issue openly and honestly. This could be through community meetings, workshops, or mediation programs.
4. Minimize Transaction Costs: Make it as easy as possible for people to negotiate by reducing legal barriers, providing mediation services, and ensuring transparent communication.
5. Reach an Agreement: Encourage parties to come to a mutually beneficial agreement that addresses the externality. This agreement should be fair and consider the needs and rights of all involved.
6. Monitor and Adjust: Once an agreement is in place, continuously monitor its effectiveness and make adjustments as needed to ensure it remains fair and effective.

#5: Collaborative Consumption

Collaborative consumption, also known as the sharing economy, is an economic model where people share access to goods and services instead of owning them individually. 

This can include activities like car sharing, bike rentals, house sharing (like Airbnb), and even sharing tools or clothes. 

The idea is that by sharing resources, we can use them more efficiently, reduce waste, and save money.

Because it promotes sustainability, reduces inequality, and strengthens community ties, collaborative consumption is an essential idea to cultivating social innovation. 

By sharing resources, we can help ensure that everyone has access to the things they need, even if they can’t afford to buy them outright. 

This model can also foster a sense of community and cooperation, which is essential for addressing social justice issues.

Steps to Implement Collaborative Consumption for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Needs and Resources: Determine what resources are needed in your community and what can be shared. This could include books, tools, transportation, or space.
2. Create Sharing Platforms: Develop platforms (physical or digital) where people can easily share and access these resources. Examples include online groups, apps, or community centers.
3. Promote Inclusivity: Ensure that everyone in the community knows about these sharing opportunities and feels welcome to participate, regardless of their background or economic status.
4. Encourage Participation: Organize events and programs to get people involved in sharing, such as swap meets, community potlucks, or skill-sharing workshops.
5. Monitor and Improve: Continuously assess how well the sharing programs are working, gather feedback from participants, and make improvements as needed to ensure they are meeting the community’s needs.

#6: Microfinance

Microfinance is a financial service that provides small loans, savings accounts, and other financial products to individuals who do not have access to traditional banking services. 

These services are typically aimed at people with low incomes or those in developing countries who need money to start or grow their small businesses. The loans are usually small amounts, hence the term “micro.”

Nevertheless, despite the size of these loans, microfinance empowers people, especially those in poverty, to improve their economic situation. 

By giving people access to financial resources, they can start businesses, create jobs, and support their families. 

Ultimately, microfinance can help break the cycle of poverty and promote sustainable economic development.

Steps to Implement Microfinance for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Target Groups: Determine which groups or communities would benefit most from microfinance services, such as low-income individuals, women, minorities, or young entrepreneurs.
2. Establish Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): Set up or partner with MFIs that have a mission to promote social justice and economic development. Ensure they have the resources and expertise to provide loans and financial education.
3. Develop Tailored Financial Products: Create loan products and savings accounts that meet the specific needs of the target groups. Consider low-interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and small loan amounts.
4. Provide Financial Education: Offer training and resources to help borrowers understand how to manage their finances, run a business, and repay loans. This increases the chances of successful outcomes.
5. Monitor and Support: Continuously monitor the progress of borrowers and provide additional support or adjustments as needed. This could include mentorship, business advice, or additional financial products.
6. Promote Success Stories: Share the success stories of individuals who have benefited from microfinance to encourage others to participate and to attract more support and funding for the programs.

#7: Open Innovation

Open innovation is a concept where organizations use external ideas, knowledge, and technologies in addition to their internal resources to drive innovation. 

Instead of relying solely on their own staff and resources, companies and organizations collaborate with outside experts, researchers, and the public to develop new products, services, or solutions. 

This approach can lead to more creative and effective outcomes because it harnesses a wider pool of ideas and expertise.

By tapping into the collective intelligence and creativity of a diverse group of people, we can develop innovative approaches to address social justice issues.

Steps to Implement Open Innovation for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Key Challenges: Determine the specific social justice issues you want to address, such as education inequality or environmental racism.
2. Engage a Diverse Community: Involve a wide range of stakeholders, including community members, experts, NGOs, and government representatives, to ensure diverse perspectives and ideas.
3. Create Collaborative Platforms: Develop or utilize existing platforms that facilitate open innovation, such as online forums, collaboration tools, or innovation hubs.
4. Facilitate Idea Sharing: Encourage the sharing of ideas through workshops, hackathons, innovation challenges, and other collaborative events. Provide incentives for participation and recognition for contributions.
5. Develop and Test Solutions: Work collaboratively to develop prototypes or pilot projects. Test these solutions in real-world settings and gather feedback to refine them.
6. Scale Successful Innovations: Once a solution has been proven effective, work on scaling it up to reach a larger audience. This could involve seeking additional funding, forming new partnerships, or using larger platforms for implementation.
7. Monitor and Iterate: Continuously monitor the impact of the implemented solutions and make necessary adjustments based on feedback and changing conditions.

#8: Shared Value Creation

Shared value creation is a business concept that focuses on creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society. 

This means that companies can achieve financial success while simultaneously addressing social and environmental issues. 

Instead of seeing social problems as a cost or a burden, companies look for ways to solve these problems in a way that benefits both their business and the community.

Shared value creation is important in social innovation because it aligns the goals of businesses with the needs of society. 

By integrating social and environmental concerns into their core business strategies, companies can contribute to solving major issues.

Steps to Implement Shared Value Creation for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Social Issues: Determine the social and environmental issues that are relevant to your business and the communities you serve. This could include issues like diversity, education, or sustainability.
2. Integrate Social Goals into Business Strategy: Align your business objectives with social goals. For example, incorporate diversity targets into your hiring practices or sustainability goals into your product development.
3. Develop Partnerships: Collaborate with other organizations, including non-profits, government agencies, and educational institutions, to create solutions that benefit both your business and society.
4. Innovate for Social Impact: Look for opportunities to innovate in ways that address social issues. This could involve developing new products, services, or business models that create shared value.
5. Measure and Communicate Impact: Track the impact of your shared value initiatives on both your business and society. Communicate these results to stakeholders to build support and encourage further action.
6. Engage Employees and Stakeholders: Involve employees and other stakeholders in your shared value initiatives. This can increase buy-in and generate additional ideas and support for your efforts.

#9: Network Effects

Network effects occur when the value of a product or service increases as more people use it. 

Think about social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram: the more people who join and use these platforms, the more valuable they become to each user because there are more people to connect with. 

Network effects can be seen in many areas, from technology and social networks to markets and communities.

Network effects are important for social change because they can help spread positive behaviors and ideas quickly and widely. 

When a new idea, practice, or technology is adopted by more people, it becomes more valuable and influential, which can lead to rapid and widespread social change. 

Understanding network effects can help activists, organizations, and policymakers design initiatives that leverage these dynamics to promote social justice.

Steps to Implement Network Effects for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Key Networks: Determine which networks are most relevant to your social justice goals. This could include social media platforms, professional associations, community groups, or online learning platforms.
2. Encourage Participation: Promote the network and encourage people to join and participate. Highlight the benefits of being part of the network to attract more members.
3. Foster Engagement: Create opportunities for members to engage with each other and share resources. This could include events, online forums, mentorship programs, or collaborative projects.
4. Leverage Technology: Use digital tools and platforms to facilitate communication and collaboration within the network. This makes it easier for members to connect and share information.
5. Measure and Expand Impact: Continuously measure the impact of the network and look for ways to expand its reach. Encourage members to invite others and actively promote the network to new audiences.
6. Support and Sustain: Provide ongoing support to network members and ensure the network remains active and vibrant. This could include regular updates, resources, and opportunities for involvement.

Conclusion

In Charlie Wheelan’s book Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science, he says, “Economics is not just a subject for philosophers, statisticians, and college professors. It is about you and me, what we buy, how much we save, and how much we work.”

This rings true, not only within personal finance, but also in the way we design solutions to problems worldwide. 

Applying lessons from economics to the challenges faced in social justice not only help us to understand why the causes exist in the first place, but also how to design effective solutions. 

Then, armed with the tools to navigate a world governed by economic principles, money is no longer the root of evil. 

Actually, it is the secret to driving widespread good. 

Thought to Action

1. Bank with Ethical Institutions: Choose banks and financial institutions that prioritize ethical practices, such as community development banks or credit unions that invest in local communities.
2. Support Fair Trade: Purchase products from companies that ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for their workers, promoting ethical consumption.
3. Microfinance and Peer-to-Peer Lending: Invest in microfinance institutions or peer-to-peer lending platforms that provide small loans to entrepreneurs in underserved communities.
4. Sustainable and Responsible Investing (SRI): Invest in companies that follow sustainable practices, prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, and contribute positively to society.
5. Support Local Businesses: Spend money at locally-owned businesses to strengthen your local economy and support job creation within your community.

Sources

Check your sources!

Alam, Moinul. “What Is Open Innovation? Definition, Types, Model and Best Practices.” IdeaScale, IdeaScale, 14 July 2023, ideascale.com/blog/what-is-open-innovation/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Behavioral Economics, Explained.” University of Chicago News, 2021, news.uchicago.edu/explainer/what-is-behavioral-economics. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

Botsman, Rachel. “Defining the Sharing Economy: What Is Collaborative Consumption–and What Isn’t?” Fast Company, 27 May 2015, www.fastcompany.com/3046119/defining-the-sharing-economy-what-is-collaborative-consumption-and-what-isnt. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

Choudhary, Sunny. “Understanding Employee Incentives: A Comprehensive Guide.” ELearning Industry, eLearning Industry, 2 Apr. 2024, elearningindustry.com/understanding-employee-incentives-a-comprehensive-guide. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Collaborative Consumption: What It Is, How It Works.” Investopedia, 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/c/collaborative-consumption.asp. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Creating Shared Value.” Harvard Business Review, 2011, hbr.org/2011/01/the-big-idea-creating-shared-value. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“CSV Explained – Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness – Harvard Business School.” Hbs.edu, 2024, www.isc.hbs.edu/creating-shared-value/csv-explained/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/thebalancemoney. “Does Microfinance Really Work?” The Balance, 2018, www.thebalancemoney.com/what-is-microfinance-and-how-does-it-work-4165939. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom. “How the Coase Theorem Affects Property Rights.” ThoughtCo, 2019, www.thoughtco.com/introduction-to-the-coase-theorem-1147386. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Market Failure: What It Is in Economics, Common Types, and Causes.” Investopedia, 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marketfailure.asp. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Network Effect: What It Is, How It Works, Pros and Cons.” Investopedia, 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/n/network-effect.asp. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Open Innovation: Definition and Explanation.” The Oxford Review – or Briefings, 3 Mar. 2023, oxford-review.com/oxford-review-encyclopaedia-terms/encyclopaedia-open-innovation-definition-explanation/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

Stobierski, Tim. “What Are Network Effects?” Harvard Business School Online, 12 Nov. 2020, online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-are-network-effects.

Tipton, Matt. “How to Create an Incentive Structure | Why HR.” Why HR, 30 Aug. 2021, whyhr.guru/create-an-incentive-structure/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“What Is Behavioral Economics? Theories, Goals, and Applications.” Investopedia, 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/b/behavioraleconomics.asp. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

The post 9 Lessons from Economics on Driving Social Innovation appeared first on Green Also Green.

“It had never gotten old for him, flying. Never gone boring. Every engine start was a new adventure, guiding the spirit of a lovely machine back into life; every takeoff blending his spirit with its own to do what’s never been done in history, to lift away from the ground and fly.” ~ Richard Bach (2009), Hypnotizing Maria

Why Engines Are Relevant to Eco-Friendly Innovation?

When we dream about eco-friendly innovation, oftentimes we also disparagingly dismiss all the innovation that has enabled climate change, biodiversity loss, daunting wealth disparities, and more. 

This is a mistake. 

Yes, the carbon emissions produced from airplanes, cars, buses, and other modes of transport have caused us many problems. 

However, they also solved many problems we had before the Industrial Revolution. 

Hear me out. 

With the invention of the internal combustion engine, we were able to make travel and transport significantly faster and more efficient. 

What did this lead to?

Here are just a few of the effects:

Children who initially lived too remote to attend school now could, thus increasing literacy and empowering all economic classes. Agricultural productivity skyrocketed because instead of relying on human and animal power, we could use tractors and other farm machinery, leading to greater food security and economic growth. 

Postal services were significantly faster, enabling quicker communication across long distances. Finally, engine-powered vehicles improved waste collection and disposal systems, facilitating the transportation of fresh produce and medical supplies, enhancing public health and sanitation as a result.

That is a long list of incredibly impactful outcomes, all with a direct link to the same invention. 

While now the internal combustion engine has resulted in issues related to climate, waste, pollution, and more, the history of problem-solving and innovation behind it still hold several important lessons for anyone interested in driving change. 

Those are the lessons I am going to share with you now. 

#1: Efficiency 

First stop: efficiency. 

This is one of the greatest strengths of the internal combustion engine. If you boil it down, it’s as simple as this: air and fuel go in, an explosion takes place in the cylinders, and power is produced. 

In reality though, the efficiency of our modern-day engines took over 100 years to perfect. 

The lesson here?

Optimizing existing processes can lead to better resource utilization than implementing something completely new, which is crucial to eco-friendly innovation. 

Example from Engine History: The transition from steam engines to internal combustion engines significantly increased efficiency. Steam engines were bulky and less efficient in converting fuel to motion, whereas internal combustion engines offered a more compact and efficient power source.

#2: Problem-Solving Through Iteration 

Most of us live in a binary of pure success or absolute failure. 

In actual fact, during creative problem-solving, success and failure aren’t mutually exclusive. 

This is why it’s important to understand the concept of iteration– testing, adjusting, all while constantly inching toward an optimal solution. 

This embrace of trial-and-error can foster resilience and creativity, which are necessary traits to the eco-friendly problem-solver.

Example from Engine History: The development of the jet engine involved numerous iterations and prototypes. 

Frank Whittle’s early designs in the 1930s faced multiple challenges, but persistent problem-solving and continuous improvements led to the successful deployment of jet engines during World War II.

#3: Collaboration & Knowledge-Sharing 

In a world of politics and competition at every level, this may seem like a naive but obvious lesson- to actually talk, collaborate, and share. 

Nevertheless, it must be noted.

Creating platforms for collaboration and open knowledge-sharing can accelerate eco-friendly innovation.

Example from Engine History: The collaboration between Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach led to significant advancements in engine technology. 

Their partnership and sharing of knowledge resulted in the development of high-speed internal combustion engines, which revolutionized transportation.

#4: Societal Impact

Last stop: societal impact!

This is frequently the lowest on anyone’s list of priorities, but to truly solve any problem, it is vital to consider how your work impacts a wider community of stakeholders. 

Understanding this can guide responsible development and help avoid any further damage to our planet or to other people in society. 

For example, the development of renewable energy technologies not only addresses environmental concerns but also has the potential to provide energy access to remote and underserved communities, promoting social equity.

Example from Engine History: The mass production of automobiles powered by internal combustion engines, pioneered by Henry Ford’s assembly line techniques, transformed society by making personal transportation widely accessible. 

This had profound effects on urban planning, commerce, and daily life.

The Future: Eco-Friendly Innovation

Now that you have peeked behind the curtain at some of the most valuable insights from over a century of innovation on the internal combustion engine, it’s time to talk about the future. 

According to the European Union Joint Research Commission, over 80% of all product-related climate impacts are determined throughout the design stage of a product. 

This means that sustainable product design is absolutely crucial to lowering pollution, increasing accessibility to all demographics, cultivating water and energy security, and so on.

We have a responsibility to be stewards to our planet and society, and one of the most impactful ways to do that is through our careers. 

By applying these lessons from the intricate history behind the internal combustion engine, not only can you be inspired by those who contributed to such an amazing feat of engineering, but also empowered to apply your creativity and problem-solving to creating eco-friendly solutions. 

Thought to Action

1. Pursue: Pursue an free interdisciplinary education online to expand your awareness of other subject areas. 
2. Embrace: Embrace constraints to fuel creativity. Some ways you can do this are by:
   1. Setting time constraints or deadlines to complete a project. 
   2. Create solutions that work within environmental limitations, such as developing products or systems that are sustainable, energy-efficient, or adaptable to harsh conditions.
   3. Design for users with specific needs, such as accessibility requirements. This can lead to more inclusive and innovative designs that cater to a broader audience.
   4. Choose a prompt, theme, intention or idea to commit to as your starting point then base your project off this concept. 
3. Seek Out: Seek out collaborations with professionals from other disciplines. 
4. Diversify: Diversify your reading habits. Explore books, journals, and articles from other disciplines. 
5. Join: Join or create think tanks and innovation labs that focus on interdisciplinary collaboration. These environments are designed to foster creative thinking and problem-solving across various fields.

Sources

Before you dive into the vast ocean of online information, make sure you’re not sailing on a raft of rumors…Check your sources!

Bach, Richard. Hypnotizing Maria. Hampton Roads Publishing, 18 Sept. 2009.

Bowie, Desiree. “What Is an Internal Combustion Engine?” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 18 July 2023, science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/internal-combustion-engine.htm. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Frankel, Andrew. “A Life Well Lived: Tracing 120 Years of the Combustion Engine.” Autocar, Autocar, 15 May 2021, www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/life-well-lived-tracing-120-years-combustion-engine. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Gasoline Engine – Internal Combustion, Ignition, Efficiency | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2024, www.britannica.com/technology/gasoline-engine/Development-of-gasoline-engines. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Internal Combustion Engine Basics.” Energy.gov, 2024, www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Loughlin, Bronagh. “Why Is Sustainable Product Design and Innovation Important.” Institute of Sustainability Studies, 25 Sept. 2023, instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com/insights/guides/why-is-sustainable-product-design-and-innovation-important/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Malevus.” Malevus, 5 Sept. 2022, malevus.com/history-of-engine/#google_vignette. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Rong, Blake Z. “​​the Evolution of the Combustion Engine​​.” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 5 June 2018, www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a19854205/the-evolution-of-the-combustion-engine/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Sustainable Product Policy.” EU Science Hub, 2023, joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/scientific-activities-z/sustainable-product-policy_en. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Todd, Benjamin. “This Is Your Most Important Decision.” 80,000 Hours, 24 May 2023, 80000hours.org/make-a-difference-with-your-career/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

What is eco innovation. “5 Benefits of Eco Innovation.” Greenly.earth, 13 Feb. 2024, greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/ecology-news/5-benefits-of-eco-innovation. Accessed 28 July 2024.

The post Unlock Eco-Friendly Innovations: 4 Powerful Lessons from Engine History appeared first on Green Also Green.

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“We’re all just walking each other home.” -Ram Dass

(Scroll to the bottom for a glossary on some of the jargon used in this article)

I’ve come to the conclusion that there are two main reactions to words like “cyber”, “quantum”, and “AI”. Either these words make you shut down, overwhelmed by the fast-paced technological advancement overtaking the world, or they make you feel spunky and fresh, one with the cool kids of Silicon Valley. Along the spectrum that lies between these two responses are those of us who will throw words like “blockchain” and “quantum” into our sentences to sound more intelligent, those of us who stubbornly pretend to know how to fix wifi connection problems in front of partners or obnoxious siblings, and -of course- those of us who deflect our tech-related embarrassment with a condescending “okay boomer.”

That said, human connection is a serious business, and by association, so is anything that interferes with it. Ever since homo sapiens first had the intellectual bandwidth to think at all, we’ve been pondering this question. In recent years, however, the matter of human connection has gotten a lot more tricky. Now, rather than show romantic interest in someone through merely buying them flowers or asking them out, you also need to comment on or at least like all their social media posts, and never leave them on read. If you’re thinking “Who cares? Why not just call?”, then you might be from the generation who acknowledges texts with an “OK.” rather than “okay” or “ok” and doesn’t even realize how passive aggressive it comes across. If that still isn’t you, it might be the case that you use excessive emojis without realizing their meaning- mostly the fruit and vegetable emojis, which should just be off-limits if you don’t know what they stand for. 

Yes, it might seem trivial when you think about tech in the context of how you text your grandparents or block ex-boyfriends, but the way we interact on digital spaces is a much larger consideration than you probably ever realized. In fact, in 2021 the World Economic Forum placed digital inequality, adverse tech advances, IT infrastructure breakdown and digital power concentration among the top global risks, alongside risks like infectious diseases, climate action failure, and biodiversity loss. Among the top 10 risks by likelihood were digital power concentration, digital inequality, and cybersecurity failure. 

So yes, cybersecurity matters to you, particularly if you are a business-owner, policy-maker, banker, or, for that matter, anyone who depends on privacy and security online. In fact, according to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 USD million globally, and $8.64 USD million in the United States alone. This includes the cost of discovering and responding to the breach, the cost of “downtime and lost revenue”, and the “long-term reputational damage to a business and its brand”. 

Technology already advances at a high speed many of us struggle to keep up with, but the real cherry on top is that the emergence of the Quantum Computing age could throw into question our current methods of encryption, which many organizations rely on. This World Economic Forum post on quantum security even goes as far as to say this risk could prevent “technology’s true value from being realized” and that this issue requires immediate attention. 

That said, save the doom and gloom, because if we get cybersecurity right, it could strengthen cyber resilience in the power grid, preventing large-scale blackouts that can have severe socio-economic consequences for households, businesses, and schools. In fact, a six hour winter blackout in mainland France could result in damages totalling over 1.5 billion euros, which is equal to $1.7 USD billion. The healthcare industry would also benefit, as cyber attacks are sadly a very common occurrence. The most frequent of these are ransomware attacks on healthcare providers, in which hackers lock IT systems and demand payment to unlock them. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, 15% of ransomware attacks led to patients being redirected to other facilities, 30% caused appointment cancellations, and some services were disrupted for almost four months. Also according to the study, ransomware attacks on the sector occurred at a rate of four incidents per week in the first half of 2021. With a dizzying lack of public reporting, the article says this is only “the tip of the iceberg”. 

Yikes! Are all our dystopian sci-fi nightmares coming true? Will Siri get revenge for all the times you asked her to beatbox? Alas, I don’t have the answers to this, but I would also say that to think about the future in such binary terms- pun intended- is a mistake. Since when do such big societal shifts ever bring pure good or pure evil? With every drawback is another added benefit to whatever advancement takes place. That said, just to be safe, be nice to Siri and ChatGPT. 

Speaking of being nice, cybersecurity also poses big questions about the essence of human connection, truth, power, and meaning. The work of Emmanuel Levinas, a 20th century philosopher who focused on the ethical dimension of human relationships, is particularly striking to me. According to him, human connection is not only a matter of social convention, but also makes an ethical demand. “The Other is the very idea of transcendence,” he writes in From Totality and Infinity. “Without the Other, I would not be a being, I would not be.” In meditating on these words, I am drawn to the link between Levinas’ idea of the Other as the “very idea of transcendence” and the attitude in Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and Confucianism that the ego is a source of suffering- “a veil between humans and God” according to Rumi. To Levinas, however, this transcendence through encountering the Other is ethically profound. “The face is what forbids us to kill,” he states, the “face” encapsulating an overall presence. Still, it is haunting imagery if you only consider how connection on digital spaces masks the literal face of the Other. 

That said, if you find my philosophical musings pretentious, save the eye roll. Connection over digital spaces really is practically important. It even has a name: digital inequality. This is a phrase used to encompass the difficulty of making digital technology beneficial to all, and challenges us to address the social divisions which exist in our online spaces. Some examples are the differences in wifi bandwidth, awareness of how to avoid scams or unsafe websites, different behaviors toward online consumption, and varying degrees of exposure to different news outlets, social media content, and more. Experts divide current digital inequality into three categories: the universal access divide, the social divide, and the gender divide, with each one leading to an overall decrease in educational opportunities, healthcare access, and social support. Addressing these issues and leveling the online playing field could have surprising ramifications for those who experience exclusion online or obstacles in simply accessing digital technologies in the first place. So while digital inequality is tied more to the social side of online interactions, it is still a crucial component of our interactions with technology. 

Don’t just take my word for it! The value of human connection has been depicted all throughout psychology. In fact, a landmark survey in 1988, Social relationships and health by James S. House, Karl R. Landis, and Debra Umberson, provides strong empirical evidence which supports the view that social relationships impact on physical health. The paper consistently shows an increased risk of death for people with low quality or quantity of “social relationships”, reiterating the narrative of human connection’s importance to physical health. Ultimately, we all have a need to belong, even in an increasingly digitized world. 

Nevertheless, binging try-not-to-laugh cat videos on YouTube won’t kill you. In fact, the future of cybersecurity has much to be excited about, including the potential for passwords and cloud storage to be obsolete by 2031, but more importantly, for our digital spaces to promote environmental, social, and economic prosperity worldwide. Imagine a time when we don’t leave older generations behind with every new technological advance, a world where getting a world-class education is only as expensive as connecting to the wifi. Imagine a world where technological innovation mitigates climate change and fights back against the decline in biodiversity. This is a world we can create if we take responsibility for the world we have created thus far. 

Glossary

Thought to Action

1. Use strong privacy settings on online profiles and accounts.
   1. Review the privacy settings for each social media platform or online account and adjust them to your preferences.
   2. Limit the amount of personal information that you share online, such as your full name, date of birth, address, and phone number.
   3. Control who can view your profile, posts, and photos by adjusting your privacy settings accordingly.
   4. Avoid sharing sensitive information, such as your Social Security number, financial information, or passwords, online.
   5. Be selective about who you add as a friend or follower on social media platforms and avoid accepting friend requests from strangers.
   6. Turn off location services or geotagging features that share your location with others.
   7. Use caution when posting photos or videos online, especially ones that reveal personal details or locations.
   8. Enable two-factor authentication or login alerts to receive notifications when someone tries to access your account.
      1. Two-factor authentication= a security feature which requires two different pieces of information to allow you access into an account. 
   9. Regularly review your privacy settings and adjust them as needed to ensure that you are comfortable with the information that you are sharing online.
2. Use anti-virus software and a firewall on all devices.
   1. Some anti-virus software programs:
      1. Norton
      2. McAfee
      3. Avast
   2. To install anti-virus software, just download the software from the provider’s website and double-click the downloaded file to install. Follow the prompts to complete your installation. 
   3. Lots of devices come with built-in firewalls, so yours might already have one installed. That said, to install firewall software, simply go to the provider’s website, download the software, and double-click to install. Once installed, it should automatically start blocking unauthorized access to your device. 
   4. Watch this video on how to prevent cyber attacks. 
3. Take advantage of free digital resources, such as online courses, eBooks, and podcasts. 
   1. Some great ebook resources:
      1. Project Gutenberg: A library of over 70,000 free ebooks
      2. Open Library: “…an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published”
      3. Smashwords: Allows you to “browse nearly one million original ebooks, including approximately 100,000 priced every day at free”
   2. Awesome Podcasts:
      1. TED Talks
      2. Radiolab
      3. Freakonomics Radio
      4. Ologies
      5. Planet Money
   3. Free online educational resources:
      1. Khan Academy
      2. Coursera
      3. edX
4. Seek out diverse perspectives and voices online to broaden understanding and awareness. 
   1. Use inclusive language that respects different identities and experiences. 
   2. Ask open-ended questions to encourage dialogue. 
   3. Avoid stereotypes.
   4. Be open to feedback. 
5. Be open to adapting to and learning about new digital technologies and trends. 

Sources

You know what Edgar Allan Poe once said… “Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see.”

He had nothing to say about what you read. 

Baumeister, R. F., and M. R. Leary. “The Need to Belong: Desire for Interpersonal Attachments as a Fundamental Human Motivation.” Psychological Bulletin, vol. 117, no. 3, 1 May 1995, pp. 497–529, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7777651/. Accessed 4 May 2023.

Bergo, Bettina. “Emmanuel Levinas.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2019, plato.stanford.edu/entries/levinas/#TimeTranSoci. Accessed 4 May 2023.

“Cybersecurity.” World Economic Forum, www.weforum.org/topics/cyber-security. Accessed 4 May 2023.

Daniel, Michael, and Colin Soutar. Systemic Cybersecurity Risk and Role of the Global Community: Managing the Unmanageable B R I E F I N G P a P E R N O v E M B E R 2 0 2 2. Nov. 2022.

Fleming, Sean. “These Are the World’s Greatest Threats in 2021.” World Economic Forum, 19 Jan. 2021, www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/these-are-the-worlds-greatest-threats-2021/. Accessed 5 May 2023.

Heeks, Richard. “Digital Inequality beyond the Digital Divide: Conceptualizing Adverse Digital Incorporation in the Global South.” Information Technology for Development, 7 July 2022, pp. 1–17, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02681102.2022.2068492, https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2022.2068492. Accessed 5 May 2023.

House, James S. , et al. “Social Relationships and Health.” Science, vol. 241, no. 4865, 29 July 1988, www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.3399889?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed. Accessed 4 May 2023.

“How to Prevent Cyber Attacks? Here Are 5 Tips.” World Economic Forum, www.weforum.org/videos/5-tips-to-avoid-cyberattacks. Accessed 4 May 2023.

Ngila, Faustine. “This New Cybersecurity Centre Will Help Protect African Countries from Cybercrime.” World Economic Forum, 24 Aug. 2022, www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/togos-new-cybersecurity-africa-nations/. Accessed 4 May 2023.

Office for National Statistics. “Exploring the UK’s Digital Divide – Office for National Statistics.” Ons.gov.uk, 2019, www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/householdcharacteristics/homeinternetandsocialmediausage/articles/exploringtheuksdigitaldivide/2019-03-04#the-scale-of-digital-exclusion-in-the-uk. Accessed 4 May 2023.

Paduret, Dan Cristian. Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/blue-and-yellow-phone-modules-1476321/. Accessed 4 May 2023.

Pixabay. Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/abstract-beads-blur-bright-276218/. Accessed 4 May 2023.

“The Importance of Human Connection.” Worldcouncilforhealth.org, 2 Feb. 2022, worldcouncilforhealth.org/resources/human-connection/. Accessed 4 May 2023.

Wei, Shang-Jin. “How Can Digital Technology Tackle Inequality?” World Economic Forum, 12 Nov. 2019, www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/11/how-can-digital-technology-tackle-inequality/. Accessed 4 May 2023.

“What Makes Us Human? | Roy Baumeister | TEDxUQ.” Www.youtube.com, 26 Sept. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwlDLe6O7NE. Accessed 4 May 2023.

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. “Strengthening the Cyber Resilience of the Power Grid.” World Economic Forum, 15 Mar. 2023, www.weforum.org/impact/cybersecurity-in-electricity/. Accessed 4 May 2023.

World Economic Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity. “Quantum Security.” World Economic Forum, www.weforum.org/projects/quantum-security. Accessed 4 May 2023.

The post Cyber Rebels Unite: Hacking Inequality To Spark A Digital Revolution appeared first on Green Also Green.

It’s that time of the month when Auntie Flo comes around and you ride the crimson wave. It’s shark week… but also strawberry week…and also lingonberry week if you’re Swedish. It’s code red! Granny’s stuck in traffic! Les Anglais ont débarqué! If you think I’m describing a doomsday scenario with a side of red fruit and your grandma, I understand. In reality, I was describing something much more common via a hefty helping of obscure albeit artful euphemisms. 

You probably know this: There are certain words you just don’t say. This includes the p-word: “Shark week” (Australia) or “strawberry week” (Austria, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany); the m-word: “reverse puberty”, “second spring”, “the change”; or the v-word: papa (Used in Spain, slang for a double-chin), ke manju (Japanese for “hairy bean paste bun”). If you know what the p-word, m-word, and v-word are but cannot say them out loud, this is your turn to try. Say it with me: Period. Menopause. Vagina. These are natural and normal parts of life, but many cannot even say these words out loud, let alone hear someone else saying them without cringing. 

After indulging myself in a fascinating deep dive into why period poverty is such a pressing issue, how dance can be used to dismantle the shame surrounding menopause, how art can tackle the stigma surrounding menstruation, and the centuries-old marriage between material science and menstrual technologies, I was left with another question that called for more than just a brief web surf: Why can’t we talk about it? And more questions: When did our societal silence start? What makes menstruation and menopause different from other taboo topics like politics and religion? Why do these natural, normal, perfectly-healthy, and near-universal experiences evoke shame? 

Despite what I’d initially thought, a dig into the origin of menstrual and menopausal stigma suggested that even among the experts, it is unclear where it comes from. It was, however, clear that the stigma pre-dates the dawn of language in almost every culture, with a few exceptions. This article from Clue draws heavily on the theory proposed by Christ Knight, a social anthropologist at London University who has researched the “deep historical roots of menstrual taboo”. 

Knight’s view is that the original taboos were born of “female-led” and “female-advantaging” behaviors in early humans, which allowed them to assert menstruation as a time when their bodies were untouchable. While this originally reinforced female autonomy, it became a negative taboo when big animals became more scarce and the traditional hunter-gatherer rhythms were altered. This disrupted female solidarity as it became necessary to gather food more frequently, meaning that the menstrual cycle was no longer synchronized with the process of hunting large game. 

Knight then goes on to suggest that the response to this was men beginning to ritualize their own version of menstruation by cutting their penises and sometimes other parts of the body. The menstrual huts that females used to gather in to menstruate together were reassigned for the “new, better synced, male bleeding ritual” in which they would bleed together.  According to Knight, this is at the heart of all the world’s patriarchal religions, in which temples and churches reflect this male-controlled and dominated atmosphere. “At the base of all the world’s religions, we find one fundamental idea. Some things are sacred. And if the body isn’t sacred, nothing is,” he says. “Blood was a mark of the sacredness of the body. So the paradox is, that the very thing that benefited women throughout evolution is now made to be, and experienced as, the most disempowering.”

Regardless of whether you believe Knight’s theory is accurate, he acknowledges the paradox of power and struggle that is a hallmark of the shame surrounding menstruation and menopause. If the body isn’t sacred, nothing is, he says, and yet there is some nagging sensation that for a large chunk of history, the body is the farthest thing from sacred that there is. To speak of menopause and menstruation specifically, you need only consider the over 5000 slang terms used to describe these natural and healthy processes to bear witness to this attitude. Not only is the body not spoken of as sacred, but it is spoken of as repugnant, dirty, and worst yet, shameful. 

Shame. It’s an unassuming five-lettered word with big implications on the individual and societal level. It thrives on silence and feasts on your inner doubts, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and more. Here you might be thinking that this is making a mountain out of a molehill- or a crimson wave out of a puddle- but the excessive use of hurtful euphemisms and slang actually serves to reinforce the much more ominous force of shame. 

Brené Brown highlights this in her breathtaking TED talk on vulnerability. As she explains throughout her research, shame is something we all experience. It is part of what it means to be human and impacts who we are and how we behave. Despite how universal it is, most of us don’t want to talk about shame, as it makes us uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this is exactly what perpetuates it. “Shame derives its power from being unspeakable,” Brown writes. It feeds on silence, judgment, and secrecy. The solution? Vulnerability. 

But what about the slang, euphemisms, and centuries of casual misogyny surrounding menopause and menstruation? How do they evoke shame? According to this article by the Independent, an international survey with over 90,000 responses from 190 countries and ranging across ten different languages found over 5,000 slang words and euphemisms for the word “period”. 78% of the participants believed slang words were used when talking about periods, and in France and China, periods were spoken about in 91% slang terms, followed by Denmark at 86%. Nevertheless, many other countries were on the bandwagon as well. English-speaking participants often cited euphemisms such as Aunt Flo, code red, bloody mary, shark week, the crimson wave, code red, and “the blob”. In Finland, the expression hullum lechman tauti was used, which translates to “mad cow disease”.  In Brazil, participants used eusou com chico, which means “I’m with Chico”, referring to the socialist Chico Mendes. In France, it was Les Anglais ont débarqué, or “The English have landed”. In Denmark they said Der Er Kommunister i Lythuset– “There are communists in the funhouse”- while in South Africa they said “Granny’s stuck in traffic.” As much as  this range of morbid and obscure language might have made you roll your eyes, it still highlights a widespread discomfort surrounding the topic.   

The question that follows, of course, is what to do about it. After all, in maintaining a culture that masks the natural and healthy processes experienced by the female body, the shame surrounding these processes is only left to fester. To develop resilience toward shame, Brené Brown and her colleagues did research into Shame Resilience Theory, in which they identified that those who were able to move through shame and toward empathy all shared the following four elements of shame resilience: (1) recognizing shame and understanding its triggers, (2) practicing critical awareness, (3) reaching out, and (4) speaking shame (i.e. asking for what you need). 

In Brown’s research, she suggests using researcher Kristin Neff’s three elements to improve self compassion: practicing self-kindness over self-judgment, common humanity over isolation, and mindfulness instead of over-identification. 

For now, let’s just start with the linguistic part of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness as it pertains to menstruation and menopause. Fortunately, there are some straightforward changes that you can make to the language you use. 

Step one is to just say the bloody word. Say “period” instead of “the blob” and “menopause” instead of “reverse puberty”. Use the clearest words possible when describing the female- or male- anatomy, and make an effort to know how your body works. 

Within the realm of language surrounding menopause and menstruation, there is also debate surrounding the use of the terms menstrual hygiene versus menstrual health, as the term menstrual hygiene has connotations more with cleaning, whereas menstrual health encompasses all aspects of menstruation, which include overall wellbeing, gender equality, education, equity, empowerment, and human rights. By placing menstruation with health rather than hygiene subsequently encourages the view that it is natural, healthy, and heavily intertwined with all other aspects of a female’s wellbeing. This is an important shift in thinking, as menstruation is about so much more than just cleaning up something “unsanitary”. 

In Liz Kleinrock’s TED Talk How to Teach Kids About Taboo Topics, she says that she believes “the first step towards holding conversations about things like equity is to begin by building a common language.” While she didn’t discuss menstruation or menopause, it is still highly relevant, particularly as her point links with the way we educate future generations. By signaling to others, especially those as malleable as children, that discussing the natural processes of their bodies is disgusting, confusing, and taboo, shame only lives on. As such, it is necessary to be open and curious in order to tackle the stigma that exists. This brings me back to Brené Brown’s words: “Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.”

To speak, and how we speak, is an immensely powerful and underappreciated force. According to this Forbes article, verbal communication through language is one of the qualities that make us unique in the animal kingdom. While scientists are not absolutely sure when humans first spoke, they think that language began two million years ago from the need to communicate while making tools. Today, about 6,500 languages are spoken around the world. That is 6,500 ways to tell a stranger “hello”, 6,500 ways to tell the loves of your life “I love you”, and 6,500 different canvases by which to paint a new attitude toward menstruation and menopause. 

The human voice is one of the most powerful instruments in the human body. The Swedish Musicologist Johan Sundberg once said that “the human voice has been called ‘the mirror to our soul’”, particularly in reference to singing, but also to the speaking voice. This voice is even more than just a tool; It is an instrument for change. Indeed, saying “period” instead of “that time of the month” or “menopause” instead of “the change” might seem small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. In reality though, it’s not. When many people like you and me make these small and barely-perceptible changes over time, we eventually rewrite the centuries-old narrative of how we perceive our complicated, confusing, evolving, beautiful, messy, miraculous, stardust-laden bodies. And that narrative starts with a word. And that word comes from you. 

Thought to Action:

1. Check out the Netflix documentary Period. End of Sentence. Which won an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject for 2019
2. Education: Teach yourself what a period is and how it works by watching this phenomenal TED Talk, Why Can’t We Talk About Periods?, by Dr. Jen Gunter, a renowned gynecologist and author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto. 
3. Consumption: If you menstruate, you can opt for products that are kind to the environment and kind to your body.
4. Language: How we talk about issues like period poverty affects the way we think about them. Update some of basic linguistic habits to remove the stigma around menstruation by checking out this link. 
5. Support: Support the women in your life going through menopause by using some of these tips:
   1. Encourage open discussions about menopause with everyone, even husbands, sons, brothers, fathers, etc. A supportive community is needed to make women feel more comfortable during this transition. 
   2. If you have already experienced menopause, share your experience with others to demystify the process and alleviate the shame surrounding it.
   3. Be mindful of the “little” things women might experience during menopause, like the discomfort of a hot flash in the middle of the night, the need to keep the room a bit cooler, sudden mood swings, and the difficulty of coping with menopause in the workplace.
   4. Read this article to find out more.
6. Read: Check out Emilia Clarke’s three-issue comic mini-series M.O.M.: Mother of Madness about a single mom, Maya, who uses the secret powers rooted in the various points in her menstrual cycle to take on a group of evil human traffickers.

Sources

Barth, F. Diane. “7 Ways to Fight Debilitating Shame | Psychology Today.” Www.psychologytoday.com, 23 Mar. 2018, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-couch/201803/7-ways-fight-debilitating-shame. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Calderwood, Imogen. “12 of the Weirdest and Worst Euphemisms for the Word “Period.”” Global Citizen, 22 Nov. 2017, www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/weird-period-euphemisms-around-the-world/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Devlin, Hannah. “Breaking the Menopause Taboo: “There Are Vital Stories We Should Continue to Pursue.”” The Guardian, 21 Sept. 2019, www.theguardian.com/membership/2019/sep/21/breaking-the-menopause-taboo-there-are-vital-stories-we-should-continue-to-pursue. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Druet, Anna. “Clue: Period and Ovulation Tracker for IPhone and Android.” Helloclue.com, Clue, 2019, helloclue.com/articles/culture/how-did-menstruation-become-taboo. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Gordon, Ali. “Period Taboo: Why Can’t We Talk about Menstruation?” BBC News, 24 Feb. 2019, www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47254222.

“HEALTH – Top 10 Weird (and Funny) Names for the Menopause.” Heart London Magazine, 7 Sept. 2021, heartlondonmagazine.com/2021/09/07/health-top-10-weird-and-funny-names-for-the-menopause/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Kleinrock, Liz. “How to Teach Kids to Talk about Taboo Topics.” Ted.com, TED Talks, 2017, www.ted.com/talks/liz_kleinrock_how_to_teach_kids_to_talk_about_taboo_topics. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Morgan, Lindsay. “Talking about Taboos: How to Create an Open Atmosphere for Discussing Difficult Subjects.” THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect, 10 Nov. 2021, www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/talking-about-taboos-how-create-open-atmosphere-discussing-difficult-subjects. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

O’Connor, Roisin. “There Are More than 5,000 Ways to Say “Period” around the World – These Are the Best Ones.” The Independent, 1 Mar. 2016, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/menstruation-study-finds-over-5-000-slang-terms-for-period-a6905021.html. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Ph.D, Jeremy Sutton. “Shame Resilience Theory: Advice from Brené Brown.” PositivePsychology.com, 14 June 2017, positivepsychology.com/shame-resilience-theory/#overcoming-and-dealing-with-shame. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Prisk, Jenni. “Civic Nation BrandVoice: Mark My Words: There Is Power in Your Voice.” Forbes, 26 Feb. 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/civicnation/2020/02/26/mark-my-words-there-is-power-in-your-voice/?sh=4ae5cd6e3b77. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

read, Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE15-Jan-22 · 5 mins. “How to Alter Your Language around Menstruation to Be More Inclusive.” Patient.info, 15 Jan. 2022, patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-alter-your-language-around-menstruation-to-be-more-inclusive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Sack, David. “5 Ways to Silence Shame.” Psychology Today, 2015, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/where-science-meets-the-steps/201501/5-ways-silence-shame. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Selva, Joaquin. “Shame Resilience Theory: How to Respond to Feelings of Shame.” PositivePsychology.com, 14 June 2017, positivepsychology.com/shame-resilience-theory/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Sheesley, Maddie. “How to Talk about Menstruation.” Helloclue.com, Clue, 6 Nov. 2017, helloclue.com/articles/culture/how-to-talk-about-menstruation. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

The Sanitation Learning Hub. “Call a Period a Period: Exploring the Language and Knowledge of Menstruation.” Sanitation Learning Hub, 27 May 2021, sanitationlearninghub.org/2021/05/27/call-a-period-a-period-exploring-the-language-and-knowledge-of-menstruation/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Thorpe, J.R. “41 Awesome Euphemisms for Vagina around the World, Because Your Pupusa Speaks All Languages.” Bustle, 26 Feb. 2015, www.bustle.com/articles/66680-41-awesome-euphemisms-for-vagina-around-the-world-because-your-pupusa-speaks-all-languages. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

West, Mary. “Female Reproductive Organ Anatomy, Parts, and Function.” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 8 Oct. 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/female-reproductive-organ-anatomy#uterus. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

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After writing about menstruation, periods, tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and the stigma surrounding them, I realized that there was still an oft-ignored member of the party that I had to pay homage to: menopause. “Menopause”, the word I only first heard after getting my first period, a word filled with mystery, saturated with finality. I remember thinking it was funny how words surrounding female reproduction sounded both grammatical and masculine, all starting with “men”- menopause, menstruation– and containing words like “period” and “pause”. I thought it was funny how dissimilar grammar and menstruation were- one messy and somewhat unpredictable, the other rigid and abstract- and how peculiar it was that menstruation didn’t belong to men even though it sounded like it did. I also remember wanting to ask people what it was like, how long it lasted, if it hurt, if it was miserable, when it would happen to me, but always feeling held back by the worry that they would get offended by the mere suggestion that they might have the experience required to answer my questions. 

The National Institute on Aging defines menopause as the point in time 12 months after a menstruator’s last period. The menopausal transition, or perimenopause, is what you call the year leading up to that point, in which menstruators might experience changes in their monthly cycle, hot flashes, or other symptoms. It often begins between ages 45 and 55, lasting roughly seven years but sometimes stretching to 14. How long it lasts depends on lifestyle factors such as age, smoking, race, and ethnicity. During this period of time, the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, both produced by the ovaries, can be variable.

Yet menopause is a phenomenon that transcends biology, marking a point in life that many find daunting and challenging on an existential level. Indeed, there is a long history in Western society of menopause being used to antagonize women of a certain age, with pressures all around to make anyone past their time of reproduction feel excluded and underappreciated.  

One striking example of this discrimination toward older women has appeared throughout history through the persecution of those accused of witchcraft. According to Britannica, the European witch-hunt craze peaked in the 1580s and 90s to the 1630s and 40s, with about three quarters of the hunts taking place in western Germany, France, northern Italy, and Switzerland. It is impossible to know exactly when the trials began, but it is generally thought that the number of trials and executions “varied according to time and place”, although generally speaking a total of roughly 110,000 people were tried for witchcraft and between 40,000 to 60,000 were executed.”

Witches were thought to be followers of Satan who “traded their souls for his assistance”. They would then allegedly employ demons to desecrate the crucifix and the consecrated bread and wine of Holy Communion; shapeshift to and from an animal form, riding through the air at night to secret meetings called “sabbats”, where they would partake in orgies and sometimes have sex with Satan himself; and kidnap and murder children for the sake of eating them or using their fat for magical ointments. Naturally though- while there were admittedly some individuals who did worship the devil, try to practice maleficium– malevolent sorcery- and yes, there were even people with moles and warts, no one was actually a witch by the definition of the time. 

Looking back, there is still no reasonable explanation for women making up the overwhelming majority of people accused of witchcraft- about three quarters of those convicted. Older women, single women, and widows were particularly susceptible to accusations. That is to say, menopause and witchcraft have been intimately interwoven for centuries. 

I mention this in order to demonstrate an important point about the depiction of menopausal women throughout history. Namely, that the decrease in fertility that occurs during menopause has, for hundreds of years, been associated with powerful evil. In fact, the deeply embedded understanding of menopausal women as witches still contributes to the pathologization of menopause today. This is why a witch, predominantly considered evil in Western culture, is depicted as old, infertile, and isolated from the rest of society. 

 As a result of this attitude, so deeply embedded within the patriarchal codes of Western society, menopause has been the source of shame and stigma for centuries. This is, however, quite strange given that shame manifests when societal norms have been transgressed. Yet everyone has a body bound by the confines of time. Everyone grows older, everyone goes through puberty, and everyone has a few stray pimples and hairs. Rather than acknowledge this mostly-universal truth, shame is an emotion which causes people to turn their focus inward, cutting deep into their identity. 

According to this medically-reviewed article on PsychCentral, it could manifest through feelings of worthlessness, worrying about what others think of you, being afraid to look stupid, perfectionism, negative self-talk, or anger in response to shame triggers, resulting in side effects such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, sleeping issues, stomach pain, overeating or loss of appetite, eating disorders, substance use disorder, and codependency. While personal experience for some might corroborate this long list of symptoms, there is also evidence to underpin these concerns. Dr. June Tangey and Ronda L. Dearing have evidence to suggest that people with a propensity for feeling shame often have low self-esteem and that shame can increase risks of developing other psychological conditions such as depression. In 2010, a study led by Ulrich Orth of the University of Bern, those in their teen years were particularly sensitive to shame, with this inclination decreasing until it resurged again in older age, in which people felt shame toward their bodily appearance.

 Dr. Brené Brown is yet another well-known shame researcher who advocates for vulnerability. “Shame derives its power from being unspeakable,” she says. How simple, and yet how terrifying, to speak the unspeakable, to strip away the power of silence with just your voice. What if, through asking about menopause, we discovered that the shame surrounding it could be replaced with pride? 

This is where we meet the grandmother hypothesis, an idea that has been put forward by researchers to explain why homo sapiens evolved menopause, the biological mystery that means females stop being able to reproduce about halfway through their life. While it does exist in a small selection of other species, such as Japanese aphids and killer whales, it is extremely uncommon throughout the animal kingdom.

The grandmother hypothesis suggests that instead of disadvantaging homo sapiens, menopause actually allows older females to better support their offspring- and their offspring’s offspring, allowing more offspring to survive into adulthood. So while the individual female can no longer pass down her genetic material, she can more readily ensure the survival of those who are carrying it. 

How does this fit into the way we view menopause today? Sure, like me, you may live an ocean away from your grandmothers, or perhaps not be lucky enough to have them in your life, but this is a phenomenon that goes beyond being a grandmother; It is about being a leader. It is about reinventing yourself. It is about getting clear on what you value. 

“Shame derives its power from being unspeakable,” Dr. Brené Brown says. The shame surrounding menopause is just one example. In reality, fertility or the lack thereof never made menopausal women any more “witch” than the rest of us. In fact, Japanese and Mayan culture view the menopausal transition as a period of growth, renewal, and spiritual rebirth. This highlights not only that it’s possible to rewrite the narrative, but that a positive narrative of menopause already exists. Using our voices to dismantle shame is one tool to get there, but today I want to propose a different kind of expression, one that might terrify you even more. 

Sure, we all know you sing in the shower and bop your head when listening to something groovy. But what if there is something even more powerful to be said for dancing? What if it can dismantle shame? What if it can promote social bonding, increase self-esteem, and fight depression and anxiety? Well, research from 2021, results of which are published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), suggests that this could all be the case. Results seem to support the claim that dance improves cholesterol levels, physical fitness, self-image and self-esteem for postmenopausal females. 

This is particularly important for this demographic, as postmenopausal females are more likely to experience weight gain, overall/central body adiposity increases, and metabolic disturbances such as increases in triglycerides and bad cholesterol. This leads to a higher cardiovascular risk, but is also complemented with decreased self-esteem and self-image. According to the study, “dance therapy is seen as an attractive option because it is a pleasant activity with low associated costs and low risk of injury for its practitioners.” Dance therapy also offers the added benefits of improved balance, posture, strength, and “overall physical performance”. In fact, dance therapy, first pioneered by Marian Chace back in the 1940s, has been used to help patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other studies by Leste & Rust have highlighted the power of dance classes to reduce anxiety. 

Yet this is, to some extent, old news in the grand scheme of human history. According to the 2015 paper Synchrony and exertion during dance independently raise pain threshold and encourage social bonding, the performance and enjoyment of music and dance in a group setting is somewhat ubiquitous across all human cultures. “Dance is fundamentally cooperative in nature,” it explains. “And may have served the evolutionary function of encouraging social bonds, cooperation and prosocial behaviors between group members.” The authors of this paper- Bronwyn Tarr, Jacques Launay, Emma Cohen and Robin Dunbar- attribute this to the empirically proven link between synchrony, which is performing the same movement at the same time, and bonding. It suggests that synchronization between people influences their positive social feelings toward each other, blurring the perception of ‘self’ and ‘other’. 

By breaking down this barrier between ‘self’ and ‘other’, another thing gets broken down- shame. This is why dance offers such a powerful tool in tackling the physical and emotional toll of menopause. Not only does it provide exercise, but it also acts as a way of bonding and expressing oneself. Shame derives its power from being unspeakable. Yes, this is true. But shame also derives power from being undanceable. 

Sources:

(meno)PAUSE TO CHECK YOUR SOURCES

Archives, The National. “The National Archives – Homepage.” The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/early-modern-witch-trials/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Devereaux, Christina. “Are You Afraid to Dance? | Psychology Today.” Www.psychologytoday.com, 10 Aug. 2013, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meaning-in-motion/201308/are-you-afraid-dance. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

—. “Why Should We Dance?” Psychology Today, 2013, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meaning-in-motion/201305/why-should-we-dance. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

EPOCH. “Wicked or Wise? Menopausal Women in Popular History.” Epochmagazine, 31 Aug. 2021, www.epoch-magazine.com/post/wicked-or-wise-menopausal-women-in-popular-history. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Jackson, Melissa. “Dance Therapy for Mental Patients.” News.bbc.co.uk, 3 Apr. 2004, news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3551063.stm. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Johnson, Jacquelyn. “Toxic Shame: Causes, Consequences, and How to Cope.” Psych Central, 13 May 2022, psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-toxic-shame#recap. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Jone Johnson Lewis. “Witch Hunts in Europe: Timeline.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 23 Jan. 2013, www.thoughtco.com/european-witch-hunts-timeline-3530786. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Kämmerer, Annette. “The Scientific Underpinnings and Impacts of Shame.” Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2019, www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-scientific-underpinnings-and-impacts-of-shame/#. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Lambert, Jonathan. “Living near Your Grandmother Has Evolutionary Benefits.” NPR.org, 7 Feb. 2019, www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/02/07/692088371/living-near-your-grandmother-has-evolutionary-benefits. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Lamia, Mary. “Shame: A Concealed, Contagious, and Dangerous Emotion.” Psychology Today, 2011, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intense-emotions-and-strong-feelings/201104/shame-concealed-contagious-and-dangerous-emotion. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Lesté, A., and J. Rust. “Effects of Dance on Anxiety.” Perceptual and Motor Skills, vol. 58, no. 3, 1 June 1984, pp. 767–772, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6473025, https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1984.58.3.767. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Lewis, Ioan M., and Jeffrey Burton Russell. “Witchcraft | Definition, History, Varieties, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/witchcraft#ref214880.

McKie, Robin. “Killer Whales Explain the Mystery of the Menopause.” The Guardian, 15 Jan. 2017, www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jan/15/killer-whales-explain-meaning-of-the-menopause. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

National Institute on Aging. “What Is Menopause?” National Institute on Aging, 2017, www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-menopause. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

North American Menopause Society. “Postmenopausal Women Can Dance Their Way to Better Health.” ScienceDaily, 28 July 2021, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728105640.htm. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Selva, Joaquin. “Shame Resilience Theory: How to Respond to Feelings of Shame.” PositivePsychology.com, 14 June 2017, positivepsychology.com/shame-resilience-theory/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Tarr, Bronwyn, et al. “Synchrony and Exertion during Dance Independently Raise Pain Threshold and Encourage Social Bonding.” Biology Letters, vol. 11, no. 10, Oct. 2015, p. 20150767, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0767.

Teixeira, Giovana Rampazzo, et al. “October 2021 – Volume 28 – Issue 10 : Menopause.” Journals.lww.com, Oct. 2021, journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Citation/2021/10000/Dance_practice_modifies_functional_fitness. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Vogel, Kaitlin. “Whether You’re 25 or 65, Here Are 50 Quotes about Menopause That Will Resonate with Every Woman.” Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays, 26 July 2021, parade.com/1239990/kaitlin-vogel/menopause-quotes/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Wallenfeldt, Jeff. “Salem Witch Trials | History & Causes.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 30 Nov. 2018, www.britannica.com/event/Salem-witch-trials#ref332153.

Women’s Health Network. “Menopause in Different Cultures.” Women’s Health Network, 18 Nov. 2013, www.womenshealthnetwork.com/menopause-and-perimenopause/menopause-in-different-cultures/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2023.

Thought to Action:

1. Dance: Take some time to dance to your favorite music or even consider joining a class. Just focus on enjoying yourself. There is no such thing as “too old”, “too weird” or “too uncoordinated”.
2. Educate: Teach yourself what a period is and how it works by watching this phenomenal TED Talk, Why Can’t We Talk About Periods?, by Dr. Jen Gunter, a renowned gynecologist and author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto. 
3. Support: Support the women in your life going through menopause by using some of these tips:
   1. Encourage open discussions about menopause with everyone, even husbands, sons, brothers, fathers, etc. A supportive community is needed to make women feel more comfortable during this transition. 
   2. If you have already experienced menopause, share your experience with others to demystify the process and alleviate the shame surrounding it.
   3. Be mindful of the “little” things women might experience during menopause, like the discomfort of a hot flash in the middle of the night, the need to keep the room a bit cooler, sudden mood swings, and the difficulty of coping with menopause in the workplace.
   4. Read this article to find out more.
4. Petition: Consider signing:
   1. this petition to call ministers of health in New Zealand to make menopause training mandatory for all GPs and medical students, create menopause awareness and support in every workplace, and to include menopause in school curriculums. 
   2. this petition to end period poverty in the U.S.
5. Language: How we talk about issues like period poverty affects the way we think about them. Update some of basic linguistic habits to remove the stigma around menstruation by checking out this link. 
6. Read: Check out Emilia Clarke’s three-issue comic mini-series M.O.M.: Mother of Madness about a single mom, Maya, who uses the secret powers rooted in the various points in her menstrual cycle to take on a group of evil human traffickers.
7. Inspire: Consider incorporating some of these witty feminist comebacks into your lexicon:
   1. “Menopause. A pause while you reconsider men.” (Margaret Atwood)
   2. “A man told me that for a woman, I was very opinionated. I said, ‘For a man, you’re kind of ignorant’.” (Anne Hathaway)
   3. “My coach said I run like a girl. And I said if he ran a little faster he could too.” (Mia Hamm)
   4. “I’m tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” (Madonna)
   5. “Of course, I am not worried about intimidating men. The type of man who will be intimidated by me is exactly the type of man I have no interest in.” (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

The post Not a Witch, Bitch Or Hag: The Art of Dance & Menopause appeared first on Green Also Green.

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Throughout the world, almost 500 million people are affected by period poverty, which is the term used to describe a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these. Anyone who’s ever been in the situation where their period begins without the adequate supplies knows that this is an issue stretching way beyond what they teach you in high school biology. It is also a matter of politics, culture, history, psychology, and social attitudes. I’m talking about the shameful stigma surrounding menstrual health. 

This is what I want to hone in on: the shame. Make no mistake, of course the economics, medical research, and biology lessons all have a vital place. However, there is something else underneath all the well-intentioned interventions to this problem. There lies a very sinister habit of staying rather hushed, as though the topic of how a female body functions is fundamentally unclean and impure. 

In fact, this attitude has been perpetuated all throughout history. According to Painting Blood: Visualizing Menstrual Blood in Art, many societies throughout time- and even in the modern day- have imposed a “strict set of rules about the visualization of menstrual blood in art and visual culture”. Ruth Green-Cole, the author of this work, then goes on to state that the “hegemonic and patriarchal codes controlling discussion, commemoration, or visualization of menstruation” have led countless women now and in the past to view their own bodies as negative and shameful. 

For a minute let’s set aside the rigidity of big scholarly words and academic writing. What Green-Cole describes is deeply personal. After all, there is unfathomable power in how we think, talk, represent, and commemorate the female body. This stretches beyond mere physiology. To attack the value and purity of the womb, the blood, a person’s sex itself is to attack the person whose soul is held within that body. This is no small matter. 

Lewis, Jen. “Is the Grass Always Greener?,” Beauty in Blood, www.beautyinblood.com/gallery.html. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

On the other hand though, there is always another side to power. Through channeling this power into the right places, it is possible to flip the script from one of shame to one of empowerment. Now the big question is How?

As always, there are multifarious approaches to tackling stigma, but for now I’d like to discuss one which I find particularly fascinating: visual art. In Aisle article, Menstruation in Art, Ariane Bell Vila states, “Making art about menstruation is one of the ways in which we can normalize it. It allows people to see a reflection of themselves through someone else’s eyes and feel less shame. It also (ideally) allows folks who don’t menstruate to maybe understand it and sympathize a little bit more. Art can help us unpack loaded or taboo subjects; periods are ready for the palette.”

Make no mistake though- art has a complicated history of representing menstruation and menopause. Returning to Green-Cole’s Painting Blood,  the concept of ‘gendered blood’ is heavily embedded in patriarchal traditions. These cultures “suppress images of menstruation” while European and American art “valorize women’s bodies as vehicles for male scopic desire”.This highlights a paradoxical interplay between embracing the female body as a sexual object while thoroughly denying its natural healthy processes. The association in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions between menstrual blood and immorality only furthers this. While Christ’s blood is elevated in the Eucharist as “the blood of heroes lost on the battlefield”, female blood is seen as a punishment for Eve’s temptation of Adam. This arbitrary divide between female and male blood in artwork was a common theme for centuries. 

That is, until the 70s. At this time, feminist art emerged, producing works which were both radically honest and startling. Green-Cole describes them as not “easy to look at or decent and palatable”, as they bluntly contravene the “requirement” that female bodies in art must be timid and chaste. In doing so, they revalue “gendered blood”, transforming it gradually into a positive, defiant, or ambiguous symbol. 

This heavily contrasts with works like Marc Chagall’s 1910 oil on canvas Birth or Paul Gauguin’s 1892 painting Parau na te Varua ino (Words of the Devil), which depicts a young Tahitian woman standing naked amidst lush green foliage, a masked she-devil lingering in the background. The she-devil watches as the embarrassed woman covers her genitals with a white cloth, symbolizing purity. Her posture is “that of a woman fallen from grace” and all around her feet are pink flowers, evoking associations with blood, impurity, and the “passage that has just occurred from virginity into the status of a ‘fallen’ Eve”. 

This patriarchal image of women as the defective, leaky “other” is nonetheless challenged by artists like Paula Modersohn-Becker and Frida Kahlo, who were contemporaries of Gaugin and Chagall. Green-Cole remarks that in actual fact, Kahlo never explicitly worked with menstruation as a theme. Nevertheless, the image of blood is common throughout her work, such as in Henry Ford Hospital and Mi Nacimiento(My Birth), both painted in 1932. Modersohn-Becker contributed similarly through works like Selbstbildnis am 6. Hochzeitstag (Self-Portrait on the Sixth Wedding Day) in 1906 and Mutter mit Kind auf dem Arm, Halbakt II (Mother with Child in Her Arms, Half-Length Nude II) in 1907. 

So even at the dawn of the 20th century there were hints that a shift in perspective was coming. In the 70s this really took off. Now there is a whole wave of feminist art celebrating menstruation. Among these artists are Ellie Kammer, who creates breath-taking paintings depicting the experience of endometriosis; Natalie Byrne, who wrote and illustrated the book Period. on “everything you need to know about periods”; Sarah Naqvi, whose embroidery work depicts menstrual blood in a celebratory way; Vanessa Tiegs, the creator of “menstralas”; and too many others to list. 

Lewis, Jen. “The Crimson Wave,” Beauty in Blood, www.beautyinblood.com/gallery.html. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

I particularly enjoyed the Beauty in Blood project, in which photographs of menstrual blood in water are photographed to depict a plethora of mesmerizing shapes and shades of color. It seemed to provide a stark contrast to the attitudes of disgust and vulgarity that have been held toward female blood traditionally. Instead, each image is delicate and detailed. It even takes a moment to remember that it’s a photograph of blood…in a toilet! Each image must go through a four-step process of media collection, pouring/designing the layout, photographic capture, and photograph selection. By using photography to capture this taboo subject matter from an elegant angle, the artist, Jen Lewis, challenges the many taboos surrounding menstruation that paint it as something vulgar and repulsive. 

Another project I found particularly thought-provoking was Vanessa Tiegs’ Menstralas, which consists of 88 paintings, or “menstralas”,  to highlight the importance of menstrual cycles. In this project, Tiegs uses her own blood as a medium, which has evoked mixed reactions among the public. However, other projects, like Sarah Naqvi’s feminist embroidery to depict menstrual blood, are also both aesthetically appealing and provocative. “Most of my art uses the medium to start a dialogue,” she says in an interview with Feminism in India. “As long as it starts a conversation, it has made an impact.”

Tiegs, Vanessa. “Ruby Red,” Menstrala Galaxy Crossing, www.vanessatiegs.com/menstrala/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023. “Finding one’s voice is a critical step in healing this challenging aspect of womanhood that is too easy to joke about merely because it stays hidden and ignored. When I published “Ruby Red,” girls with endometriosis thanked me for helping them break their conditioned silence. ” -Vanessa Tiegs.

Perhaps this is overall what must guide artists in the realm of menstrual health advocacy: starting a conversation. As I mentioned before, this open discussion is yet another way of crushing the dangerous stigma surrounding menstruation. 

“Art is not what you see,” Georgia O’Keeffe once said. “It’s what you make others see.” It is through this subtle but powerful ability of artwork that social stigmas surrounding menstrual health can be crushed. When stigmas are crushed, normalization occurs. When normalization occurs, menstruators are empowered to take control over their health by asking questions and starting conversations. Still the work so many artists are doing today is only the start. As Belle Vila declares, “Periods are ready for the palette.”

Thought to Action

1. Education: Teach yourself what a period is and how it works by watching this phenomenal TED Talk, Why Can’t We Talk About Periods?, by Dr. Jen Gunter, a renowned gynecologist and author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto. 
2. Sign the petition: Sign this petition to end period poverty in the U.S.
3. Consumption: If you menstruate, you can opt for products that are kind to the environment and kind to your body.
4. Consumption…For a Cause: Check out Accessory Junkie and Period.’s joint project to sell Peri earrings in order to support menstruators worldwide. Proceeds from the sale of 100 pairs of the Peri earrings supports 1,500 menstrual cycles around the world. There is currently a waitlist, so make sure to sign up for an update on when it becomes available!
5. Language: How we talk about issues like period poverty affects the way we think about them. Update some of basic linguistic habits to remove the stigma around menstruation by checking out this link. 
6. Support: Support the women in your life going through menopause by using some of these tips:
   1. Encourage open discussions about menopause with everyone, even husbands, sons, brothers, fathers, etc. A supportive community is needed to make women feel more comfortable during this transition. 
   2. If you have already experienced menopause, share your experience with others to demystify the process and alleviate the shame surrounding it.
   3. Be mindful of the “little” things women might experience during menopause, like the discomfort of a hot flash in the middle of the night, the need to keep the room a bit cooler, sudden mood swings, and the difficulty of coping with menopause in the workplace.
   4. Read this article to find out more.
7. Read: Check out Emilia Clarke’s three-issue comic mini-series M.O.M.: Mother of Madness about a single mom, Maya, who uses the secret powers rooted in the various points in her menstrual cycle to take on a group of evil human traffickers.
8. Advertising: Inform businesses of how their advertising might promote bodily shame. Watch some of these empowering new ad campaigns that challenge toxic beauty standards.
   1. Dove’s #MyBeautyMySay
   2. Always’s #LikeAGirl

Sources

Hlola ukucabanga kwakho! is Zulu for Check your assumptions!

Bell Vila, Ariane. “Menstruation in Art.” Aisle, 22 May 2020, periodaisle.com/blogs/all/menstruation-in-art. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

Bloody Good Period. “MENSTRUAL EQUITY RESEARCH.” Bloody Good Period, www.bloodygoodperiod.com/bloody-data. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

Cardoso, Lauren F., et al. “Period Poverty and Mental Health Implications among College-Aged Women in the United States.” BMC Women’s Health, vol. 21, no. 14, 6 Jan. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7788986/, 10.1186/s12905-020-01149-5.

Geng, Caitlin. “What Is Period Poverty?” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 16 Sept. 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/period-poverty#how-it-affects-people. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

Green-Cole, Ruth. “Painting Blood: Visualizing Menstrual Blood in Art.” The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies, 2020, pp. 787–801, 10.1007/978-981-15-0614-7_57.

Gunter, Jen. “Why Can’t We Talk about Periods?” Www.ted.com, 2019, www.ted.com/talks/jen_gunter_why_can_t_we_talk_about_periods. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

Marcus, Hannah, and Rose Crabb. Understanding Experiences of Periods. 2022.

Martinčič, Julia. “Let It Bleed – Art’s Revival of Menstrual Blood.” The Guardian, 12 Dec. 2016, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/dec/12/let-it-bleed-arts-revival-of-menstrual-blood. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

read, Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE15-Jan-22 · 5 mins. “How to Alter Your Language around Menstruation to Be More Inclusive.” Patient.info, 15 Jan. 2022, patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-alter-your-language-around-menstruation-to-be-more-inclusive. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

Steinem, Gloria. “If Men Could Menstruate.” Women’s Reproductive Health, vol. 6, no. 3, 3 July 2019, pp. 151–152, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23293691.2019.1619050, 10.1080/23293691.2019.1619050.

Vellore, RutuChakra. “Art Depicting Menstruation: A Perspective.” Medium, 12 Oct. 2021, rutuchakra-vellore.medium.com/art-depicting-menstruation-a-perspective-68099b017736. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

Water Aid. “In the Red: WaterAid Finds 1 in 4 UK Women and Girls Struggle to Afford Period Products as Cost-of-Living Crisis Takes Its Toll | WaterAid UK.” Www.wateraid.org, 25 May 2022, www.wateraid.org/uk/media/wateraid-survey-uk-women-and-girls-struggle-to-afford-period-products. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

The post Menstrual Menstralas: Why Art Is The Path Out of Stigma appeared first on Green Also Green.

There is a moment every female-bodied tween dreads- the day your sporadic, temperamental period comes early and you’ve forgotten your pad. You’re stuck in the bathroom stall on a muggy summer afternoon in the middle of French and you know your only option is to stuff toilet paper into your panties and say a prayer. After class you’ll have to ask around to see if anyone will let you have one of their pads, but you’ll still have to sit in class for what feels like millenia, dreading any of several incriminating stains that could seep through. In school. In front of everyone. Blazed into your memory. After waddling back to class cautiously, precariously sitting yourself back down, you grab your pen and look up, trying to focus, but you can’t. Your mind is conjuring up a bloody red menagerie of worst-possible-scenarios, and now you’re starting to feel some cramps too. How do you say ‘to be on your period’ in French anyway?

Well it’s avoir ses règles, and for many menstruating people worldwide, a lack of adequate supplies to handle menstruation safely has led to what we now call period poverty. In fact, period poverty is considered a global health crisis. 

Let’s take a step back though, because the word ‘period’ makes sense and so does ‘poverty’, but when the two are put together it starts to get a bit confusing. Truth be told, many definitions are circulating, some which center around being able to financially afford menstrual products, others with focus on access, education or awareness. In reality, period poverty counts as all of these. The definition I found to be most aligned with this all-encompassing definition is the one on Medical News Today, which states that “period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these”.

Now while that sounds like a definite issue, what elevates it to the status of a global health crisis? In short, why should you care? Perhaps you’re even reading this as someone who has never menstruated or never will. 

cottonbro studio. Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/sanitary-pad-on-white-background-3926751/. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

If you’re a proponent of utilitarianism and appreciate a bit of hedonic calculus, join me as we crunch some numbers: There are about 8 billion people on this planet. According once again to Medical News Today, 500 million people who menstruate lack access to menstrual products and hygiene facilities. That’s about 6.25% of the global population having several days of discomfort on a monthly basis due to lacking access to menstrual products and hygiene facilities. If every person on the planet were a grain of sand, all 8 billion of us put together would weigh as much as a grand piano. If you were to take all 500 million of the people lacking menstrual products and hygiene facilities, they would weigh as much as three full size watermelons. Now let’s say you took the estimated 16.9 million people who menstruate living in poverty in the U.S. alone. If they were all grains of sand and you put them together, it would weigh as much as an iPad. In fact, a 2021 study found that almost two-thirds of women in the U.S. with a low income could not afford menstrual products in the last year, while nearly half sometimes had to choose between buying food or menstrual products. 

This kind of constant stress at the back of someone’s mind every month for several days can prevent them from participating in their education or careers, which has significant economic implications for their ability to financially support themselves and their families, as well as their participation in the wider economy. 

Undoubtedly, this is a concern from the very first time a young person gets their period. One widely-quoted statistic is that one out of every ten African girls misses school due to menstruation, although there is admittedly much difficulty in measuring absences and the reasons for them. That said, poor school attainment nevertheless “reduces girls’ economic potential over her life course, impacts population health outcomes; which extends to girls’ sexual and reproductive health outcomes, self-esteem, and sense of control”.

The impacts of this also affect women already in the workforce. According to the University of Leeds Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development’s 2019 report, results from a pilot menstrual health intervention by Business for Social Responsibility’s (BSR) HER project show that 73% of women working in factories in Bangladesh missed work for an average six days a month. When the HER project provided pads and a behavior change work-based intervention, absenteeism dropped to 3%.

Vaitkevich, Nataliya. Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/red-and-white-heart-decors-5712294/. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

With that in mind, we can imagine what it would look like to eradicate period poverty. In this ideal world, where menstrual health is neither stigmatized nor out of reach, people would have access to information about menstruation, life changes, and hygiene practices. They would be able to take care of themselves during menstruation. They’d have access to water, sanitation, and healthcare, the ability to receive a diagnosis for menstrual cycle disorders, a positive and supportive environment in which to make decisions, and the empowerment necessary to participate in all aspects of life, such as going to work, school, and anywhere else.

The tricky thing is how to get there. Of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, I could think of at least nine which tie into the trials and tribulations of period poverty, indicating that there is definitely a need for a solution. 

Below I’ve mentioned which ones I saw an immediate connection to and their number on the list of the seventeen total SDGs:

• 3. Good Health & Wellbeing
• 4. Quality Education
• 5. Gender Equality
• 6. Clean Water & Sanitation
• 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
• 10. Reduced Inequalities
• 12. Responsible Consumption and Production
• 13. Climate Action
• 16. Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

So we’ve established that period poverty is a problem for everyone and that it’s necessary to overcome it in order to create a sustainable future. However, it’s a complicated quagmire of socioeconomic, cultural, biological, and anthropological factors that take creativity and collaboration to tackle. I can’t do it all by myself and nor can you, but we can make a start with a few simple steps and creative ideas. 

One way to deconstruct the stigma behind menstruation is through art. Through art we open ourselves up to bold curiosity; Through curiosity we open the door to normalization. As Dr. Jen Gunter, an outspoken gynecologist and science communicator says, “It shouldn’t be an act of feminism to know how your body works.” This attitude has been reflected by several artists already, such as Vanessa Tiegs, who creates menstralas to spread awareness about menstrual health; Sarah Naqvi, who uses embroidery to depict menstrual blood; or Rupi Kaur, whose controversial photograph of a woman with a menstrual blood stain was once temporarily removed from Instagram. 

Another way to approach period poverty is by diving into the marriage between material science and menstruation, a marriage involving menstrual cups, tampons, pads, and the environment which sits on the receiving end of all we dispose of. By understanding how best to balance comfort, finance, women’s health, the environment, and the other forces at play, we can prevent women from having to make unjust sacrifices. 

No one should have to choose between buying tampons or food. No one should have to compromise their career or education because they can’t access menstrual products. No one should have to feel ashamed of the way their body functions. No one should have to worry about whether they can make it twenty hours with the same pad. So now it’s the job of you and me, dear reader, to address the neglected global health crisis of period poverty one word at a time. 

Thought to Action 

1. Education: Investigate further about how to how to support menstruators and decrease the stigma relating to menstruation by:
   1. Asking questions & starting conversations about menstruation, menopause, period poverty, and bodily shame.
2. Consumption: If you menstruate, you can opt for products that are kind to the environment and kind to your body.
3. National Advocacy: Menstruators need the support of their government to provide the appropriate infrastructure and access to hygienic menstrual products. Protective legislation can ensure that everyone who menstruates receives this, while reducing taxes on menstrual products, making them available to all who need them. Check out this petition to end period poverty in the U.S.:https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-now-end-period-poverty
4. Language: How we talk about issues like period poverty affects the way we think about them. Update some of your basic linguistic habits to remove the stigma around menstruation by checking out this link. 
5. Advertising: Inform businesses of how their advertising might promote bodily shame. Watch some of these empowering new ad campaigns that challenge toxic beauty standards.
   1. Dove’s #MyBeautyMySay
   2. Always’s #LikeAGirl
6. Legislation: Protective legislation can ensure affordable access to proper facilities and menstrual hygiene products. Governments can also reduce taxes on menstrual products, making them more affordable.

Sources

“E nānā mau i nā kumu,” is Hawaiian for “Always check your sources.”

Action Aid. “Period Poverty.” ActionAid UK, 2021, www.actionaid.org.uk/our-work/womens-rights/period-poverty. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

Bodyform. “What Is Period Poverty? | Bodyform.” Bodyform.co.uk, Bodyform, 20 Sept. 2018, www.bodyform.co.uk/our-world/period-poverty/. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

Brooksbank, Kate. “Period Poverty: One in Eight Likely to Struggle to Afford Sanitary Products They Need in next Year | YouGov.” Yougov.co.uk, 14 Sept. 2022, yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/09/14/period-poverty-one-eight-likely-struggle-afford-sa. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

geng. “What Is Period Poverty?” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 16 Sept. 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/period-poverty#what-is-it.

Hampton, Janie. “Call a Period a Period: Exploring the Language and Knowledge of Menstruation.” Sanitation Learning Hub, 27 May 2021, sanitationlearninghub.org/2021/05/27/call-a-period-a-period-exploring-the-language-and-knowledge-of-menstruation/. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

Menstrual Health Coalition. “Menstrual Health Coalition.” Menstrual Health Coalition, www.menstrualhealthcoalition.com/. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

Periods Matter. “Period Poverty – the Facts.” Periods Matter, www.periodsmatter.co.uk/period-poverty-the-facts. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

Sedghi, Amy. “14 Best Sustainable Period Products, Reviewed.” The Independent, 6 Aug. 2021, www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/fashion-beauty/best-sustainable-period-products-uk-review-b1821265.html. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

Unicef. “Menstrual Hygiene.” Unicef.org, 2020, www.unicef.org/wash/menstrual-hygiene. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023.

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