Understanding Inaction: Denial vs. Despair
There’s a TED talk by a climate activist named Clover Hogan that’s really worth watching. For about 12 minutes, she talks about the process of becoming mentally prepared to enact change, which is a task of incredible importance. The most profound aspect of her talk, however, is the eye-opening perspective that she brings to the conversation.
Hogan theorizes that our society’s reaction to environmental issues is a product of two dangerous mindsets: denial and despair.
When you are a victim of denial, a mindset that Hogan generally attributes to older generations, you believe that it is not your problem to fix. You place the responsibility on everyone and everything under the sun: big corporations, the economy, and even celebrities. The scope of the issue is so large that assuming any kind of responsibility would be absurd; there are people with much more power and influence who could actually make an impact.
Then there’s despair. Hogan contends that younger generations are prone to adopting this kind of mentality. It’s ironic because this inaction stems from an overwhelming sense of responsibility. Finding a starting point feels impossible because there are so many issues in desperate need of attention. What’s more, you may feel like you aren’t even obligated to contribute to change because even if you did, it wouldn’t do anything. After all, your efforts would be inevitably reversed by one system or another. You want to do something, but the challenges seem too hard to overcome. This mindset is especially damaging because it’s regularly validated by “reputable” sources like the media, politicians, and even academics.
After establishing the effects of these mindsets, Hogan brilliantly asserts that the origins of despair and denial stem are the same, even though they “exist on polar ends of the generational spectrum.” These feelings stem from a debilitating sense of hopelessness.
The Sustainable Fashion Dilemma
I found this theory of denial and despair especially fascinating because of how it could be applied to the sustainable fashion movement. Oftentimes, people react in similar ways when it comes to reducing consumption or shopping from ethical brands. They either deny that the issue has anything to do with them and their consumption habits, or they say that it’s an impossible fight because the industry is too big. People argue that since established brands outside of fast fashion engage in unethical practices as well, it’s unrealistic to think that anything could improve because every brand is technically complicit. Ironically, this thinking is what’s keeping us from improving.
Instead of arguing why a shift towards an ethical and sustainable fashion industry could never happen, start imagining ways that it could happen.
I think a common misconception about the sustainable fashion movement is that change has to be “all or nothing”. This couldn’t be further from the truth, but this belief still makes some people hesitant to become involved. They either feel like they won’t be able to deliver or that the inevitable lifestyle change that comes with joining the sustainable movement is being downplayed. Let me be the first to say, we understand. Reducing our consumption and implementing slow fashion practices isn’t easy by any means. It’s a long, hard process, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Nonetheless, we cannot turn to denial or despair in the face of this crisis. It is our responsibility, and change is achievable.
From Thought to Action
So, I encourage you to make an effort. In any capacity.
It’s not enough to merely identify this problem of mentality. We must find a solution. Hogan reminds us that the one thing that is inside of our control is our mindset. Instead of looking at our environmental crisis as a problem that looms large over our planet, zoom in a little bit.
Find a small way to enact change. It could be a community initiative or even an individual project. For example, you and a group of friends could challenge each other not to purchase any new clothing for a year. It’s easier to implement new practices when you aren’t doing it alone.
Using your skills and talents for change
Another great strategy is one that Hogan mentioned towards the end of her talk. She encouraged people to use their skills as an avenue for change. She invites fashion enthusiasts to tackle overconsumption, culinary artists to combat food waste, and musicians to make music with a message. This is such a good starting point, especially if you’re feeling lost. It’s a no-brainer that you would feel more comfortable advocating for change in an environment you’re comfortable in, so start with your own personal interests. If you can find a way to use your talents to shine a light on important issues, then you’ve tapped into something incredibly powerful.
Take some time today to self-reflect. What kind of mindset do you adopt when it comes to sustainable fashion? Despair? Denial? Or determination?
