As parents, our minds are constantly juggling countless responsibilities. We supervise homework while preparing dinner, research birthday venues for one child while waiting on hold with the pediatrician about another’s health issue. We advocate for modifications to a child’s IEP while sharing concerns about speech delays with other parents. Our care and advocacy extend to the diverse and evolving needs of our children, and we often find ourselves lying awake at night, worrying about everything under the sun.
This experience is universal for parents, making it all the more frustrating when others fail to grasp that an individual can be passionate about multiple and intersecting social issues at the same time.
When discussions arise about refugees, some immediately pivot to the notion of prioritizing “our own,” whatever that may mean. Raise the topic of women’s health rights, and someone might counter with concerns about unborn babies. Highlight the injustice faced by undocumented children, and accusations may fly that you disregard veterans, the homeless, or someone’s hardworking Uncle Joe who struggles to afford health insurance.
Enough is enough.
Here’s a revelation: the human heart can embrace more than one cause at once. We can empathize with multiple heartbreaking stories and aspire for positive change for everyone, not just “our own.” Advocating for one issue does not diminish our capacity to care about another.
It’s entirely feasible to support both refugees and the homeless, to champion compassionate immigration policies while promoting quality public education. You can advocate for veterans’ benefits and women’s rights simultaneously. A person might even choose to donate to a food bank, a women’s shelter, and a global humanitarian organization—all at once. I know, it sounds incredible, but it’s true.
Moreover, individuals can express concern for those in different parts of the world while also caring for those close to home. Shocking, right?
And yes, it is indeed possible to be deeply invested in parenting while also engaging with social issues. You can research breast pump options and sleep training techniques while simultaneously advocating for intersectional feminism and fair immigration policies. It’s a testament to the multifaceted nature of motherhood.
This is not the time to shy away from tough conversations; we must engage in meaningful discussions, educate ourselves, and support causes that promote equality. It’s essential to protest and advocate, continually affirming that “this matters.” Yet, emphasizing one cause doesn’t imply that others are any less significant.
Resistance manifests in various forms, as does love. We may love our children equally, yet at times, one child’s needs may require more immediate attention than another’s. Addressing a teacher about a child’s IEP does not mean we disregard our other child’s severe allergies. Similarly, advocating for gender equality or assisting refugees does not equate to neglecting veterans or the homeless. This truth seems more straightforward in parenting but often gets complicated in social justice discussions.
It’s not an either-or scenario; speaking out for one cause doesn’t indicate a lack of concern for others. So let’s put an end to that mindset. Dismissing someone’s efforts because they aren’t focusing on your priority issue undermines the collective good we can achieve. Frankly, the inability to appreciate the complexity of human compassion speaks more about the critic’s perspective than the individual being criticized.
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In summary, activism is not one-dimensional; it’s entirely possible to care for multiple causes at once. We should embrace this complexity and support each other in our various efforts for social justice.