The future of independence is interdependence
5 hours ago
- Interdependence is the universal human condition, as everyone relies on others for survival, though this dependence is often invisible in those considered independent.
- The cultural myth of self-sufficiency is a fantasy; even seemingly independent people depend on vast networks of infrastructure, services, and strangers.
- Society selectively normalizes or stigmatizes dependence based on factors like wealth, ability, and visibility, rather than the presence of assistance itself.
- True autonomy means having meaningful control over one's life, which often requires assistance, not doing everything alone.
- Disability reveals that functioning is conditional on environmental design, and collective support is essential for all humans, especially as populations age.
- Technology creates new dependencies and should be used to enhance autonomy within existing relationships of dependence, not to eliminate them.
- Care is a critical but undervalued form of infrastructure that needs formal recognition, compensation, and safeguards to be sustainable.
- A society designed for interdependence would provide support proactively, normalize accessibility, and recognize that everyone both gives and receives help.