The Anatomy of Intersectional Kindness
Kindness is simple, powerful and very often misunderstood. In the context of COVID19 we are working to reconsider what kindness means; and what acts of kindness are.
Kindness comes from a place of compassion; or empathy for others, particularly those who are experiencing difficulties or suffering. Feeling empathy can increase our desire to ease the difficulties or suffering of others and undertake acts of kindness.
The Kindness Pandemic calls for action to improve the lives of others, particularly those who are marginalised and oppressed. We focus solely on action to create change because it can transform what people are experiencing right now.
Kindness comes from a place of compassion; or empathy for others, particularly those who are experiencing difficulties or suffering. Feeling empathy can increase our desire to ease the difficulties or suffering of others and undertake acts of kindness.
The Kindness Pandemic calls for action to improve the lives of others, particularly those who are marginalised and oppressed. We focus solely on action to create change because it can transform what people are experiencing right now.
Intersectional Kindness
The Kindness Pandemic takes an Intersectional approach to Kindness. Intersectionality is often described as categories of inequality, differences in power (Winker and Degele, 2011) or involuntary positions at the margins where people are excluded from progress (von Braun and Gatzweiler, 2014). Prior to COVID19 people were marginalised because of characteristics such as gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, employment status, class, socioeconomic status, ability or age. For these marginalised groups, the experience of inequality may have been exacerbated due to COVID19. Evidence of this was highlighted in a recent article called A Tale of Two New Yorks, which documented the inequalities and disparities amongst New Yorkers dealing with COVID19, that are likely to be present in may countries around the world.
The experience of COVID19 is also creating new groups of people who are feeling disempowered. This includes health care workers, pharmacists and supermarket staff who are being abused and assaulted at work, people who have lost their jobs, new mums who have lost ante and post natal support etc.
The Kindness Pandemic has begun by focusing on those who are newly marginalised and will work to include many existing marginalised groups. This is a time for reach out across our differences to understand the lives of others. Perhaps by sharing stories from the margins we can understand what others experience; develop compassion for their experiences and act to address inequalities. Such an approach is needed right now - and could also create the kind of world we all want to live in for decades to come.
The experience of COVID19 is also creating new groups of people who are feeling disempowered. This includes health care workers, pharmacists and supermarket staff who are being abused and assaulted at work, people who have lost their jobs, new mums who have lost ante and post natal support etc.
The Kindness Pandemic has begun by focusing on those who are newly marginalised and will work to include many existing marginalised groups. This is a time for reach out across our differences to understand the lives of others. Perhaps by sharing stories from the margins we can understand what others experience; develop compassion for their experiences and act to address inequalities. Such an approach is needed right now - and could also create the kind of world we all want to live in for decades to come.
Loud Kindness
Asking people to share their acts of kindness is important. It helps to motivate and inspire others and gives us hope. This could be called an Appreciative Inquiry - making something better by focusing on what is good. We want people to get loud about their kind acts. In response a small number of people have suggested that kindness 'is never boasting'. In response we ask that you understand that telling people about acts of kindness is how we make act of kindness spread - it motivates others - please get loud about your kindness.
The Power of Kindness
Members of #TheKindnessPandemic told us what the Campaign means to them. Their insights are invaluable - they teach us what kindness is; the power of kindness to transform lives; and how to promote acts of kindness.
What does it feel like to be kind?
We asked #TheKindnessPandemic members to tell us what doing acts of kindness feels like to them. Here are some of their responses:
We asked #TheKindnessPandemic members to tell us what doing acts of kindness feels like to them. Here are some of their responses:
- Tracy: makes me feel fuzzy inside
- Jen: it takes away the helplessness in an otherwise help-less feeling time
- HannaH: it helps me connect to another individual. It turns a stranger into a friend
- Sue: something I have control of, in this crazy, out of control place we have found ourselves. And it makes me feel fuzzy inside too
- Manna: It feels like that's the right thing to do. I almost hear a 'click'. Like something fell into place
- Anne: reminds me that we are really just one BIG extended Family and that we can help raise the lives of others, just like we do with blood family. No one should feel along in this earthly experience
- Julie: satisfying and comforting
- Ria: happy
- Wilhelmina: it fills my soul - hello everyone
- Clara: it makes me feel connected - like I'm at one with that person/s, after all, we all breathe the same air and do-unto-others-as ...
- Aden: it means no matter what is occurring in my life I still feel a sense of hope. I feel connection even when I am alone. I feel love
- Raelene: to make someone else feel loved or thought of is the best feeling in the world
- Barbara: it feels like a moment of deep truth and paradox. The giving and receiving are one. There is no receiver, no giver. It's like a clear vibration of love and shared humanness
- Dima: it is amazing because this is the only thing that lasts and does not change no matter what
- Elaine: like I belong to the human race
- Muriel: makes my whole day sunny
- Penny: I think kindness is about awareness; we all have struggles and quite often I am humbled when I realise that someone else is really struggling far more than me. Kindness is being motivated to at least help ease that struggle for another in some way no matter how big or small that act of kindness is, it will always be appreciated by those who need it and receive it
- Brenda: uplifting. There is always someone or something that someone could be you, giving or recieving
- Jacque: gives me sense of purpose
- Yoolie: they make my heart smile
- Bev: in the midst of all the madness - it makes you feel like a human
- Lisa: it makes me feel like I'm part of something bigger than just myself
- Stacy: makes me feel humane and sparky
- Bianca: it makes me super emotional and grateful
- Helen: it makes you more grounded, everyone wins, worrying less about our first world problems. Best thing in my life is to help others
- Tammy: like I'm alive and glowing from head to toe
- Gab: I feel REAL
- Norzi: fulfilment
- Candy: it feels like reclaiming power ...
- Fran: like Christmas
- Carmel: sunshine
- to be continued ...
