Lockdown has been an experience that no one will forget in their lifetime. It has been a time of tragedy and devastation for the whole country, but in among the sadness, we have been awarded with little pockets of time that we were not blessed with previously, as the world gradually slowed down.
Its been a time that the UK has found its voice, not only speaking about issues that were otherwise taboo, but focusing on oneself and what issues one deems important to them.
So, as we gradually come out of lockdown, and adjust to the ‘new normal’, is this new normal not just social distancing measures but also how one thinks about general life? And is this new normal really a bad thing?
- Race #BlackLivesMatter
“one key thing about this movement is education”
This has been the biggest racial inequality movement I have experienced in my lifetime. It has challenged white privilege that has been ingrained in society since day one. It has made individuals speak and challenge people’s racist beliefs, and what one deems to be racist. But the one key thing about this movement is education. A lot of people including myself have realised the importance of education on issues that one is not directly affected by. I am lucky enough to be in a position where I do not see or experience racism on a daily basis, and even though I was aware that racism was a massive issue for the country, I fell victim to doing nothing to change it.
Presented with extra time to address the issue, the UK has finally started to actively change society by reading literature, signing petition and participating in peaceful protests, instead of acknowledging racism is an issue but feeling powerless to change it.
- Domestic Abuse
“one needs to do more to support survivors”
A survey by Women’s Aid has found that “67 percent of survivors who are currently experiencing abuse said it has got worse since COVID-19.”
Domestic abuse hotlines have been under extreme pressure to provide services under lockdown conditions, as well as dealing with an increase of cases. Again, domestic abuse has always been acknowledged in society, but not enough has ever been done to support survivors or prevent abuse from reoccurring.
Lockdown has shone a light on to this issue, highlighting to society that one needs to do more to support survivors. It has prompted the government to pump 22 million pounds into domestic abuse charities, so they can provide the support that has been needed for years.
It has also re-entered a bill into parliament to tackle domestic abuse- a long awaited baby step in the right direction.
- Mental Health #ItsOkayNotTobeOkay
“The mind is becoming more of a priority.”
There have been various mental health campaigns over the years and slowly but surely it is becoming more acceptable to admit mental health struggles to oneself and others. But over lockdown the country has seen a parallel pandemic- a mental health crisis. Mind, Britain’s leading mental health charity found “60 percent of people across England say that their mental health has got worse over lockdown”. This proves that everyone can struggle with their mental health, and in our society what is classed as ‘normal’ is the majority, so if the majority of people suffer with mental health then why are we not talking about it?
I have always been confused as to why admitting your struggles is a sign of weakness when in reality the process of admitting is the strongest thing an individual can do. However, there has been a slight change in attitude over lockdown. More people are talking about mental health, more people are checking up on friends and family, more people are admitting that they have bad days, more people are acknowledging the fact that the mind is a powerful thing and doing more things to keep it healthy. The mind is becoming more of a priority.
The main point is to talk, educate and act.
As a nation we are slowly becoming more accepting that mental health is a reality and not just something in our imagination.
Lockdown has not created these issues; it has opened up a space to express that these societal issues need to change and has allowed people to have a voice. These issues have always been present, but it only now that people are finding the power to change them.
As life has slowed down, people have unravelled themselves from a self-centred mindset, only giving energy to their career, families and friends- anyone/anything that directly affects them. Instead, the country is slowly adapting a mindset that has thought for people, to understand other people’s lives, to educate themselves on issues that were previously ignored. Is this ‘new normal’ what modern society has needed for years? Yet, its unsettling that it has taken a global pandemic to provide a spotlight for societal issues that have needed attention for years. Its taken hundreds of thousands of people to die globally, for us to wake up and realise that society is broken and we are the only ones to fix it.
Lucy Jones
Featured image courtesy of @markusspiske via Unsplash.