Discussion date: December 14, 2022
SPOTLIGHT 6.1-6.7 (Page 192-212)
Responsible: Riho TOKUMARU
<Summary Part>
In the SPOTLIGHT 6.1-6.7 (Page 192-212), there is the following topics:
SPOTLIGHT 6.1 Principles to be cultivated to navigate uncertainty
SPOTLIGHT 6.2 How local communities confront rapid environmental change
SPOTLIGHT 6.3 How volunteerism, inclusion and deliberation can work as insurance
SPOTLIGHT 6.4 Addressing mental distress: Capabilities for people and policymakers
SPOTLIGHT 6.5 Social media misinformation and freedom of expression
SPOTLIGHT 6.6 Collective action and social movements shaping culture and coping with uncertainty
SPOTLIGHT 6.7 Feminist mobilizations defying gender social norms
I am especially interested in the SPOTLIGHT 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7, so I would like to mention these 5 topics here.
SPOTLIGHT 6.1 Principles to be cultivated to navigate uncertainty
To be cultivated to navigate uncertainty, the author focused on four major points: Creativity, Solidarity, Incorporating solidarity, Inclusion.
These four motivating principles are non exhaustive but balancing them could help pathways to transformation. riving transformation requires acknowledging the links and tensions between them. These principles are not mutually exclusive.
They often coexist and enable each other. For instance, inclusion can unlock innovation. Exposure to diversity motivates people to learn, and iterative learning is part of innovation.
SPOTLIGHT 6.2 How local communities confront rapid environmental change
Towards this question, the author highlights that having the perspective of local women. This is especially popular in South African countries, and the book mentions the following three example.
- Example 1
Women in Upsher villages formed a vegetable-growing community
- Example 2
The Mansomani initiative, led by Black women—mobilized community support to convert a piece of land into an irrigated sugar cane field and liaise with a local sugar mill
- Example 3
The African Institute for Integrated Responses to Violence Against Women and HIVAIDS at the Panzi Hospital to research mental health in African contexts
SPOTLIGHT 6.4 Addressing mental distress: Capabilities for people and policymakers
To address mental distress, the author focuses on “Preventing distress”, “Mitigating crisis”, “Building Resilience”.
In terms of Preventing distress, socioeconomic policymaking can contribute to this goal. Income support, for instance, has been shown to significantly decrease mental distress of children and young people living in a household. Also, education is key to empowerment, enabling people to filter good-quality information out of abundant information during the digital age.
In terms of Mitigating crisis, the pandemic has shown that strong social institutions can help mitigate crises by contributing to stability. Relying on a well-connected social protection system can ensure people’s livelihoods and emotional distress until the crisis is overcome.
In terms of “Building Resilience”, with universal access to mental health services as well as other culturally aligned resilience building and healing approaches, people are often able to absorb mental distress and thrive in the context of uncertainties. For example, Yoga, Mindfulness exercises and meditation.
SPOTLIGHT 6.5 Social media misinformation and freedom of expression
Along with the potential benefits of rapidly expanding virtual social spaces, social media provide fertile ground for spreading misinformation and fake news, and the targeted and intentional use of platforms to enhance polarization and radicalization.
Prominent social media platforms have been called to action on this front by users, policymakers, authorities and their own conviction.
SPOTLIGHT 6.7 Feminist mobilizations defying gender social norms
Feminist movements and women’s different forms of resistance and action have come a long way, so amid uncertainty, we can imagine and build a feminist future. In the face of uncertainty and shocks, advocates and social movements can demand governments and institutions act to prevent disproportionate increases in and intensity of inequalities.
Grassroots and community-level organizations and feminist collectives, as relevant actors within broader movements, can be vital sources of knowledge, experience and perspectives to enable transformation.
There is great potential in community-based interventions—apart from institutional reforms—that could be leveraged to move the needle on social norms.
<Discussion Part>
I asked to lab members the following two questions:
Q1. How should social media companies and governments approach information regulation?
Q2. How are biases against gender equality and women’s empowerment changing?
Here, I sum up with the main point in the discussion.
To Question 1,
- Sexual and violent expressions should be regulated.
- Since the information that should be restricted is often different for each individual, a system that filters by itself is also necessary.
- There are a number of cases in which slander on SNS drives victims to commit suicide. In addition, although the victim her/himself was not at fault, there are cases in which the manipulation of information by the media led to radical criticism from the public, leading to such cases.
To Question 2,
- Gender equality has improved in recent years.
- Any discussion of gender equality should also focus on gender differences. In particular, regarding jobs, there is a strong tendency for gender differences to have a direct impact on occupations. Physical labor is relatively easy for men to accept, and from the perspective of sexual harassment, there are many women in nursing care jobs.
- Rather than gender equality, equality of opportunity is important for both men and women.