This is from my Substack page:
The Lack of Agency
The reinterpretation, challenge, and systematic erosion of empowerment
‘Agency’ refers to individuals’ capacity to act independently, make their own choices and exert control over their lives. Individuals and groups gained agency in the 20th century through a combination of organised activism, legal challenges, mass mobilisation and legislative reform. This is particularly evident in the context of the US Civil Rights Movement, although similar patterns occurred across the UK and Europe.
Across the US, UK, and Europe, there is a growing perception that individual agency is being eroded by systems that foster dependency and by bureaucratic structures that seem indifferent to personal aspirations. This shift is reflected in increased reliance on government support, feelings of political powerlessness, and widening divides in empowerment and opportunity.
In addition, supported by current psychological and psychiatric research, we find that a lack of agency has a profound and well-documented negative impact on mental health. People who feel they lack control over their circumstances are much more likely to experience anxiety and depressive symptoms. Perceiving that one’s actions cannot influence outcomes can lead to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and chronic stress
https://glocalities.com/reports/ing-report-bridging-the-empowerment-divide