What Constraints In Your Life Would You Like To Be Free Of? A selection of the constraints that people told us they’d like to be free from in their lives. Some of the words offered reoccurred many times over, the constraints that weave through society causing inequality and distress. Others were unique, particular to an individuals life experience.
Illnesses
Poor mental Mental health
Bad Mental Health
Claustrophobia
Anxiety
Depression
Mental health, I wish I could relieve anyone from that pain
Emotional torment
Anger
Worry and sadness
Pessimism
Fear
Self-doubt
Self-criticism
Feeling trapped, helpless
Uncertainty
Hedgehog theory
Physical pain
Asthma
Cancer
Chronic illness
Unseen illness
My allergy because it stops me having nuts
Limits, physical, psychology, bonds
A Strong tight feeling can’t breathe. Someone’s hand’s around my neck.
Physical, emotional, Phycological
Physical & mental health. E.g. health, social expectations, financial
Certain abilities like mental (E.g. Memory) or physical (E.g. Running and swimming)
Physical/ psychological
Medication
Societal judgment
Judgements
Let me be me
Expectations of other people x2
A society that is not accepting of different races and individuals – wish acceptance of all (From Canada)
Not being able to be me because of social expectations
Not being able to speak or voice opinions freely. Not able to move. Not able to live without judgement or restrictions.
Family expectations
Prejudices
Racism
Sexism
Misogyny
Ableism
Homophobia
Transphobia
The limits of my body – both in terms of legality with my transness, and literally with my disabilities
Other people’s judgement especially about things like a person’s gender, identity, sexuality, presentation, weight, disabilities (Especially ‘invisible’ illnesses & mental health issues.
A society that is not accepting of different races and individuals – wish acceptance of all (From Canada)
I wish the world was a more equal place for everyone
Dehumanising practices
Social constraint: Gender
Misogyny and oppression, especially in the guise of ‘religion’ & ‘culture’
Institutional constraints
Institutions
The schooling system, that shit messed me up so bad and reflects in my adult life, literally like every other person, let’s be honest
Freedom to pursue learning what you wanna learn without worrying about how useful it’s gonna be in the workforce
The idea that all we do is work all our lives to afford a mediocre life and then die
Work
5 day work week
Too many opinions influences to make up your own mind
Freedom to travel without having to worry about money/paperwork/law
Injustice
Being too afraid to walk home from work late at night
Political Power
‘False News’ World government politics – listen to the people!
Politics
Power/authenticity. Misuse. Control
Environmental Crisis
War
Detention Centres GONE
Brexit
Brexit
Europe
Governments that oppose Brexit
Tories
The Constant fear that the world could easily be invaded by aliens and we could be put in cages like the animals we are.
The Pistol ban
Cycling on Pavements
Day-to-Day/Life
Money Commitments
Money
Rent
Debt
Bills
Mortgages
Lack of money to do things many take for granted, I.E. Holiday abroad and/or home improvements – despite working full time at 63
Being forced to get insurance
Responsibilities, bills, money
Being Broke
Poverty
My adult life and career has been in austerity
Finance and rent
Time
If the clock and socially acceptable times to do things didn’t exist life would be so much better
Getting Old
Time, I hate being Ties to it. I’ve only got one very small clock in my house.
Timetables, Calendar, School Holidays!
Not enough time for me, family, friends, etc,
Not being able to see family members, on other side of world, very often
Time and Age
Elderly parents
Committed Relationships
Periods
Shoes
Sports Bra – Choice between breathing & blackeye
Work & chores
Bras
Spotify Premium Ads
Social media & the image it portrays how we should be
All advertising for unnecessary ‘stuff’
Tik Tok
ASMR Videos
T-Series
Pouting selfies and massive eyebrows
YouTube Channels that say they have full HD movies but make you click on the link in the description & then ask for your credit card info.
BTS Fans
Stop Prevent
Domination & Submission
Restriction
Chains not Free
“Held back”
Control Limit
Constraints encourage creativity – Use the tools you’re given to create something
Yield, Give in
Domination & Submission
Power Cautions. Voluntary/ Involuntary
Cease, Hold, Helpless
Restrict
Just send me to fucking Mars I need two planets
Cuff, Silence, Pin Down, Helpless
I would like to be able to fly
Constraint isn’t always a bad thing – and that’s okay.
Restraint is seen as a virtue.
Use it to hold up a growing tree – Support instead of restraint
Giving people who have been on the wrong end of these objects the chance to hold them/ be in a space with them
Use restraint as a route to empowerment
Feeling good! Thanks
The idea that all we do is work all our lives to afford a mediocre life and then die
ASMR videos
Political correctness
BTS fans
Injustice
The constant fear that the world could easily be invaded by aliens and we could be put in cages like the animals we are.
Being too afraid to walk home from work late at night
Mental health
Too many opinions, influenced to make up your own mind
‘false news’
Restriction
Institutions
Domination and submission
Control limit
Not able to speak or voice opinions freely.
Not able to move
Not able to live without judgement or restrictions
Responsibilities, bills
Chains
Power/authenticity
Misuse
Control
Subjugation
Medication
Limits: physical, psychological
Feeling trapped, helpless
Claustrophobia
Power
Political power
Misogyny and oppression, especially in the guise of ‘religion’ and ‘culture’
Unrealistic expectations and apathy
Social media and the image it portrays of how we should be
Being broke
Spotify premium ads
Poverty, cancer
My job
Committed relationships
All advertising for unnecessary ‘stuff’
My GF’s dad’s cage
Tik tok
Youtube channels that say they have full HD movies but make you click on the link in the description and then ask for your credit card info
Environmental crisis
Pouting selfies and massive eyebrows
My health issues (physical and mental)
Unseen illnesses
Finance
Money
Other people’s judgement, especially about things like a person’s gender identity, sexuality, presentation, weight, disabilities (especially invisible’ illnesses and mental health issues)
Social expectations
Time, age, money
Sports bra – choice between not breathing and black eyes
Timetables / calendars / holidays!
Not enough time for me / family / friends etc
Time, money, fear
Perceived barriers
Getting old!
School, money, judgement
A greater mind than I once observed that we all have to see, is that I don’t belong to you, and you don’t belong to me
Nature
Choices