It’s hard to know where to begin with the narrative around Covid-19.
The casual racism about the disease and its origins.
The panic buying that is leaving large numbers of at-risk individuals as well as those unable to financially manage bulk purchasing in dire straits.
The characterisation of all panic buyers as ‘stupid’ ‘ridiculous’ and ‘overdramatic’ without acknowledging the role that sensationalist media plays in the nation’s response.
The fact that many part time and casual staff members at schools and universities across the nation are not being protected from income loss.
The elitism of the fact that only certain disciplines are able to ‘work from home’ – while many others must continue to take highly populated public transport to workplaces each day in order to remain employed.
Aboriginal people who work for the dole continue to have to attend group activities to avoid welfare losses, despite the increased risk.
The bizarre and unexplained changes to a number of individuals Centrelink payments, making the uncertainty that much more terrifying.
The government’s continued reactive response.
The lack of a sense of community and unity arising so soon after the bushfires united the nation.
The complete saturation of the Covid-19 stories in the news, ignoring other deeply important issues*. *Covid-19 death toll currently sits at 5 while only 11 weeks into 2020 already 12 women and 12 children have been killed, mostly by family members – no state of emergency here.
Further from this keep in mind many people will be forced to self-isolate with abusive partners at present and likely this will result in an increase in domestic violence.
Also let’s stop putting pressure on one another to ‘use this time productively’ and ‘finish that project’. This shit is scary, stressful and overwhelming. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to those around you. If you have friends in relationships check in on them, if you have friends who are differently abled check in on them, if you have elderly friends check in on them, if you have friends with physical and mental illnesses check in on them. Check in on yourself. You and your health and wellbeing are astronomically more important than the drive for productivity and efficiency that capitalism has so successfully indoctrinated into all of us.
I understand this is a confusing, overwhelming and unsettling time for everyone, but please be conscious that for some this situation is far more than unsettling but in fact puts them at risk of unemployment, poverty, domestic violence and death.
Stay kind, stay generous, stay healthy. x
Bad Feminist 