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Activists today rally for LGBTQ rights, women empowerment and climate awareness. Then there is the charged political rhetoric. These are a few examples of the social movements that tend to affect people globally. And they are strongly fueled and sustained by the social media. LGBTQ movement really took off thanks to the social media. And climate change action too has gained traction through the virtual platforms.
As you may well know, the American pop culture endorsed by Hollywood, the music industry or even literature, is popular throughout the world. Through its representation of stars of colour and LGBTQ identity, the U.S. media have helped foster awareness about diversity despite its own polarising politics.
Consequently, one wonders what it means to be a global citizen in today's scenario.
Race, gender, caste and class are social constructs. They define social hierarchy and divide people into privileged and underprivileged groups, while giving status to a person. An ascribed status is that which is granted to a person by birth, which is why class, caste, race and ethnicity are largely determined by the family a person is born into.
Meanwhile, achieved statuses are those that a person earns through education and profession.
Fortunately, unlike the unjust world history, today a person born in a disadvantaged family can rise to a higher rung in his or her society through the diligent pursuit of education and career. It explains why students are constantly instructed to study conscientiously and perform well in their exams.
However, education shouldn't be limited to earning a certificate. One can be educated and still be uninformed.
And today education is versatile, from the physical classrooms to virtual Zoom meetings and from the print textbooks to digital textbooks. Likewise, one can learn through the YouTube tutorials, which are often access free.
The Internet has changed how one educates oneself.
There are free e-books available on the net, free courses through Coursera and edX as well as Open Universities which are greatly affordable. And with an education, there should be a determination to not just be an able citizen but also to inform, inspire and educate others. The question then is, how to make an impact with what we are given and what we have acquired.
Thanks to a Wi-Fi connection and a smart device, it is possible to connect to eager and enthusiastic minds worldwide. It is really a global village. And now it has become essential to be an aware global citizen who respects diversity and inclusivity.
It all starts from an individual level, which is certainly a great place to start.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 20, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
