The social pyramid of classification of words is a primeval concept deriving its eccentricity from none other than its eclectic nature, from where emerge words, clauses and phrases that are not explicitly labelled trendy, but are certainly implied as being so, reducing their complexity and depth to a surface level of an attempt to fit into certain groups, a prime example of which is empowerment, which has been used for far too long by the privileged for their personal vendettas, appearances and portfolios, similar to how mental health is treated, by deeming depression as cool (just for a few cheap laughs under the mask of a flimsy concept of the awareness) and utterly undermining the struggles of an actual person suffering from these issues.
The exponential decay of empathy
While many NGOs and public figures work tirelessly to ensure that nobody in society remains marginalised, some couldn’t care less but are interested in appearing that they do, which leads to several underlying obstacles. In this regard, the popping up of online student-led NGOs is particularly concerning, considering that most of these are not for actual steps for the improvement of society but more so to gain certificates for a scholarship, which shows the prevailing extent of detachment, isolation and apathy among them. To be able to make bold claims and misstate facts relating to sensitive issues pressing enough to destroy lives, according to preferences, solely to garner grades, is both sad and ludicrous and a massively unnoticed privilege, which aids in the deepening of the notch of superficial pages.
Students, through these pages, are internally normalising and ludicrously normalising the usage of euphemisms for serious problems, leading to and resulting in increased euphemisms for desensitisation, as they serve as a mockery to actual, empathetic NGOs. Similar is the use of ‘empowerment’ as a catchphrase by social media influencers, many of whom frequently ask for donations by ‘attaching links in the comment section’, which is comical when the fact that they probably make enough to make donations on their own is brought into perspective. Influential people often get themselves photographed with the destitute and then push these same people away after the shutter clicks. The heads of many prominent charitable organisations (whom one expects to turn to during turmoil) and who believe themselves to be feminists (or at least negate claims of being a misogynist organisation, to lightly turn away the fingers pointed at them) have, time and again, passed comments like, ‘Ham ne aurat ko kam karne ki ijazat di hai’, thinking that it runs in their favour, when it does quite literally the opposite — being entitled enough to think that they are the ones granting permission, which, as a matter of fact, has been granted to women as their birthright.
Less action, more talk
People fall into two main groups: those unconcerned with surrounding issues and those who strive, to some degree, to develop a comfortable place for their neighbours. Referring to this, it is notable how the marketing of grief and destruction has long been a favourite agenda of systems and the powerful, which they view as highly lucrative for popularity purposes only, which explains the corrupted and broken systems of our motherland, where everyone likes to talk about how important the empowerment of the underprivileged, like orphans, women, intersex people, and refugees, is and how this is hindered by unfair and unjust systems, while denying their own roles in this anarchy.
This chaos is not the product of a one-day felony; it is the result of multiple people committing crimes on multiple levels and deeming it justifiable, be it corruption, abduction of activists, granting a relative a position that an outsider would have been more qualified for, or laughing at/cracking. This is all the piece-by-piece buildup that makes up a structure where empowerment is used as a slogan, and human rights witnesses countless atrocities from the corners of their eyes. It is high time that everyone, from normal people to the influential, realise that role models or simple statements are not what is needed; rather, the implementation of these statements (and not counteractive actions) and ostracisation of elements bringing about this pullback are required, no matter how small it may be.