Too introverted to be an activist? There are quieter ways to contribute!
As someone who writes often about environmental issues, I often think about what it is I hope to do. Do I want to become a famous blogger/advocate of the climate movement? An activist? It didn’t take me long to realize I may be too introverted to be either!
When I think about activists, I think about vocal, brave, and intelligent young leaders like Vanessa Nakate, Greta Thunberg, and Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez. People with the courage to stand on an international stage and speak for the environment, in the face of governments and big industries.
When I think about advocates, I think about people like Bea Johnson and Lauren Singer, who are confident and committed to their cause. They’re two of the strongest voices in the zero-waste movement. Together, they must have inspired hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to reduce their waste-creation.
On a more local level, there are climate strikers out on the streets pumping their colorful banners in the air proudly. They’re proactive and visible contributors to the movement.
And then… there’s me. The person who has never even attended a protest. I don’t think I can stand before a crowd and deliver a moving speech about what needs to change to allow humankind to flourish. Or commit to a zero-waste lifestyle and be a voice to hundreds of thousands of people.
How can extreme introverts contribute?
Don’t get me wrong, introversion is great. I won’t change my introversion even if I could. However, introverts have a tendency to want to keep a lower profile. Crowds can tire us out very quickly, and many of us don’t do well speaking before a huge audience, some of us don’t even like too much attention online.
So there’s a contradiction between my desire to spread awareness about the state of things and my desire to stay invisible. This bothers me because I know that the more visible I am, the more people my messages can reach.
Alas, you can’t get a leopard to change its spots!
So, where does that leave introverts and the socially anxious who want to contribute to the climate movement without becoming outspoken?
Social Media Activism
Thankfully, with the prevalence of social media sprung new types of activism. Most notable of all is hashtag activism. I’m sure all of you have come across the hashtag #blacklivesmatter.
Activism is no longer limited to making signs and flyers and canvassing to educate the public about a cause, a process that used to be slow and localized.
Hashtags have become a way for stories and experience to be collected straight from the population. This allows stories that wouldn’t have been covered by traditional media to be circulated worldwide.
It’s a powerful tool in raising the visibility and awareness of an issue. Equally important, it facilitates the meeting of like-minded people, crowd-sourcing for funds and skills, and organization of events.
When used properly, hashtags can propel a cause into the limelight faster than ever before.
This is where introverts can chip in. If no one shared a hashtag, the hashtag wouldn’t have gone viral. Similarly, every time we share a news article or a thought about the climate, we create an opportunity for discussion, or for a topic to enter the consciousness of a scroller.
That said, it’s crucial to note that simply sharing isn’t enough. If we want to create change, we can’t stop at raising awareness. Sustained actions have to happen along with it. Otherwise, it’ll become slacktivism.
Don’t do slacktivism
When we share a post that informs people about a cause, or sign petitions, then leave an issue behind, that’s an example of slacktivism. Slacktivism is the use of social media for a cause that involves minimal effort and which effects minimal change.
Liking and sharing help to get information around, but they don’t necessarily help a movement in the long run. For instance, no matter how many videos about plastic pollution we share, if none of us do anything about our plastic use, or talk to the legislators about the issue, nothing is going to change.
To not become a slacktivist, we have to make sure our actions reflect our beliefs. We should read up on the cause and educate ourselves. Introduce positive changes in our lives. Or create discussions with friends and family. In addition, we can also vote with our money when it comes to products we’re buying, and vote for leaders who would work for our cause.
Other than social activism, here are 3 other ways introverts or socially anxious people can contribute in quiet, yet significant ways.
Craftivism
In this video, experienced activist and introvert Sarah Corbett talks about how activism can be made accessible to introverts.
She uses craftivism as a way to create an opportunity for people to slow down and talk about environmental issues, and to use handmade items to get the attention of the people you want to talk to. It’s a quieter and more intimate approach to activism.
One example she gave was shop-dropping. In which the quiet activists visit certain fashion stores and drop little tags into the pockets of clothing. These tags contain messages reminding people to think about who made their clothes, and how their clothes were made.
Her methods are non-judgmental and non-contact, yet it’s intimate and thought-provoking. If you’re a crafter, maybe you’ll want to give this a thought!
Activism through Action
Did you know about the man who re-created a forest in India?
In 1969, on the Majuli Island of Assam, a major drought and extreme heat left hundreds of snakes dead. Scientists said the island will be dead in a few years.
It spurred Jadav “Molai” Payeng to start planting saplings. He planted saplings and tended to the woodland every day for 35 years. Eventually turning the barren wasteland in the Majuli Island back into 1,360 acres of lush forest.
Tigers, elephants, rhinos, tigers, wild boars, reptiles, deer, and vulture, now call the Molai forest home.
Jadav Payeng is the best example that we don’t have to get on a stage to give a speech or fight off climate deniers in order to contribute to the environment.
Talk about climate change
What? Talk about climate change? That’s it?
Yup. Just like a hashtag need to be shared for it to go viral. Environmental issues need to be widely talked about to increase their relevance and visibility.
Katherine Hayhoe, the director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University, says that the most important thing we can do about climate change is actually to talk about it.
Scientists have known about climate change for a bloody long time. The problem occurs when most of us think it’s something that doesn’t concern us, or that it’s a problem in the distant future.
Or, we assume that everyone thinks that way.
The truth is, climate change is already happening and most of us can feel its impact to different extents.
By talking about it, we show people that it’s important.
We don’t talk about things that don’t concern us. If climate change isn’t important enough to be talked about, how can it be important enough for us to care about it? If we don’t even talk about it, chances are, we’re not going to do something about it.
I’m guilty of this! I write about climate change and frequently share posts about it. However, when I talk to people, I rarely bring it up. I didn’t think people care about climate change, or even believe it.
69% of Americans believe climate change is happening
I was wrong! Researchers have found that 69% of Americans believe climate change is happening. We are in the majority! By talking about it, we’ll encourage more people to talk about it.
The best part about talking about climate change is, you don’t even have to know the science-y parts of it. The key here isn’t to impart knowledge.
As Katherine Hayhoe suggested, we can approach it from a laymen’s point of view, and talk about how climate change impacts us and our values – from an entirely personal level.
What are introverts great at? Deeper conversations! We’re good at listening. Of course, this is great news for extroverts too! Because they get to talk to people and help the climate movement!
There are many different quiet ways to contribute
These forms of activism are things extroverts can do too. So it’s pretty much applicable for everyone but especially relevant for the extremely introverted.
The idea that I can’t contribute to a movement because my personality doesn’t allow me to be outspoken is silly.
There are so many types of trees and plants in the world. Some are little, some are massive. All of them help to keep nature in balance, all of them are important.
If you’re an introvert passionate about the environment or any cause for that matter, like gender equality or racial injustice, I’d like to remind you that activism comes in different forms. It doesn’t need to be loud and visible.
What it can be is creative and small, but the key is to be consistent.
I wonder if Jadav Payeng ever felt doubt about his efforts when he started planting saplings on that vast barren land. Or if someone ridiculed him. I’m glad he didn’t let the enormity of the task stop him from doing it anyway.
That, and his consistency, are things we can all learn from.
Besides, supporting the climate movement doesn’t have to be complicated. If nothing else, start talking more about it with the people closest and dearest to you. That’s something all of us, even the very introverted ones, can do!
If you think this makes sense, please share the post so more people, especially the introverted ones can see it! Also, do you know more ways we can contribute to the climate movement? Let me know what you think in the comments! Let’s keep the discussion going!
