“Without Community There Is No Liberation” : Harnessing the Power of Community in Uncertain Times

Dear Girl Bosses Under Duress, 

This week, we’re discussing the importance of community for personal liberation, why being the “strong friend” is often a misconception, and I’ll guide you through an exercise to help assess how you engage with your community. Together, we’ll explore how you can show up as your most authentic self.

Introduction 

The global economy remains unstable, with rising unemployment, inflation, and the looming threat of societal collapse. At the same time, the reality of climate change is no longer a future worry—it’s here, and its impacts are devastating. This social and political upheaval has caused people to retreat into isolation. Instead of turning to each other for support, many choose solitude, thinking it’s safer to suffer in silence due to the stigma around asking for help. 

This individualism is in stark contrast to earlier times when communities often banded together during hardship. While the world wasn’t necessarily better back then, there was a sense of unity and collective effort. Today, with the scarcity of resources and poor leadership on the rise, we’ve become more divided. So, where do you stand in relation to your community? What role do you play, and what does your community give back to you?

Before we go any further, I encourage you to reflect on your community and the role you play in it. Together, we’ll explore how to strengthen these bonds, rebuild if necessary, and harness the power of community to navigate these uncertain times. 

Without Community, There Is No Liberation 

As a marginalised person, the world can feel incredibly isolating. Even when you're surrounded by people like yourself, emotional disconnection can persist. But this isn't the natural state of things. It's a result of societal structures that benefit from keeping us divided. Ironically, despite technological advancements that should make staying connected easier, fostering genuine relationships has never felt more challenging. Audre Lorde famously said, “Without community, there is no liberation, only the most vulnerable and temporary armistice between an individual and her oppression.” This quote inspires me to contribute to and build my community. But it also highlights a painful truth: perhaps the reason our connections feel weaker is that we are drifting further from liberation. 

The freedoms our predecessors fought for are not guaranteed forever. They require protection, and if we become complacent, we risk losing them. It’s alarming how many young women today seem unaware of the gains feminism has won for us, like the ability to open a bank account or own property without a man’s permission. Freedom, much like power, is useless when it’s dormant or unrecognised. “Knowledge is power,” as the saying goes, and the less we know about our freedoms, the less power we wield. Lorde reminds us that nurturing each other is not a weakness but a source of strength. True liberation isn’t found in isolation; it’s in our collective efforts and interdependence.

The Strong Friend Fallacy 

Have you ever been labelled the “strong friend” or thought of someone in your circle that way? For years, I identified as the strong friend—the one who had everything together, who others relied on for support, advice, and resources. But here’s the truth: being the strong friend is a fallacy. It’s not that strong friends are weak, but rather that they project an image of invulnerability, and others engage with them accordingly. We wear this mask of strength, convincing ourselves and others that we don’t need help. But I want to share how I shed this exterior and the profound realisations that came with it.

While reading bell hooks’ All About Love, I had many revelations, particularly regarding the concept of protection. hooks advocates for the protection of children, one of the most vulnerable groups in society. Reflecting on this, I realised that throughout my life, I have often felt unprotected, and that feeling followed me into adulthood. In response, I created a protective barrier around myself—through education, finances, and social circles—believing it would provide me with the security I needed. And while it did offer some form of protection, I lacked emotional intimacy. I had built a fortress around myself that kept me safe, but also isolated.