You Do You — A Guide To Giving A F_ck
By Jo Lorenz
Activism is not a one-sized fits all game. While protesting and lobbying is good for some folks, it is not feasible for others.
Jo Lorenz discusses how we need to find our own comfort zone for activism, in order to push the discomfort of justice.
“I don’t know how you do this work” is something I hear quite often. And my response is always the same: why not?
After all, I'm a privileged, cis-gendered white woman — mother to two healthy boys — wife to a loving husband. If I, with all my privilege, can't enact my humanity, then how can I expect others to? I am not a woman of colour, facing continual societal discrimination. I am not a Torres Strait Islander, currently seeing my home swept away before my eyes, due to climate change and governmental in-action. I am not a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, facing a constant onslaught of bigotry and intentional misunderstanding.
Yet despite my views on the ways I choose to fight injustice, I also have to recognise that the way I push this agenda is not possible for everyone. We all have different ways we respond to situations and different levels of ability and/or comfort within these fights. Which is why today I want to encourage you all to find your own comfort zone for activism, in order to push the discomfort of justice.
Like protesting is great —yet not possible for everyone. So find your comfort to push your discomfort. Instead could you lobby with emails?
Lobbying with emails is brilliant — yet also not for everybody. So find your comfort to push your discomfort. Could you instead share some digital content?
Sharing digital content is valuable — yet not cool for all folks. So find your comfort to push your discomfort. How about having a hard conversation with some friends or family?
Hard conversations with family is amazing — yet not realistic for all of us. So find your comfort to push your discomfort. Instead, could you consider engaging with non-profits by volunteering your time or money?
The point is: you don’t have to be a full-blown activist to get involved. You don’t have to write lengthy essays about the injustices you see. You don’t have to feel guilty if you can’t do this in the same way that you see other folks do it.
You just have to ask yourself whether you're willing to commit to doing something — whether you're willing to push your discomfort. And then, my friends, once you’ve found that sweet spot: push the f_ck out of it!
