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Canadians are increasingly grappling with a sense of powerlessness amid economic hardships and rising inequality. Economic struggles have compounded feelings of uncertainty and frustration, highlighting deep-rooted issues within society. As inequality grows, many Canadians perceive limited opportunities and resources, contributing to a widespread sentiment of helplessness. These challenges underscore the need for effective policies and societal changes to address systemic issues and restore confidence in economic stability and fairness.
Boston Brand Media brings you the interesting news - Many Canadians are experiencing a growing sense of powerlessness in their lives, driven by economic challenges and increasing perceptions of inequality. Our ongoing research, initiated in 2019 in collaboration with the Angus Reid Group, involves an annual national survey on quality of work and economic life. This longitudinal study has gathered data from 23,000 Canadians across various socioeconomic backgrounds. Among the measures studied is the concept of "powerlessness," which assesses feelings of personal control and helplessness in managing life's challenges. Participants are asked about their agreement with statements such as, "Sometimes I feel like I’m being pushed around in life."
In September 2019, 45% of workers agreed with the statement. By September 2020, amidst the pandemic's upheaval, this figure slightly decreased to 43%. In both 2021 and 2022, agreement returned to 46%. However, recently, there has been a noticeable shift in sentiment.
By 2023, the agreement rate surged to 56%, marking a significant rise. In a May 2024 survey of 2,500 Canadian workers, 58% expressed feeling pushed around in life. This represents a remarkable 15-point increase from the low observed in 2020. Such rapid movement in a social-psychological measure is unusual, typically indicating a significant event or shift in societal dynamics.
Since 2019, we've consistently asked Canadians about changes in their perception of the cost of living. In 2019, 66% felt it had worsened, with 27% indicating it had significantly worsened. By 2022, these figures rose to 82% and 34%, respectively. In 2023 and our May 2024 survey, 84% maintained this view. Currently, around half of Canadian workers state the cost of living has markedly deteriorated, highlighting ongoing economic concerns.
Boston Brand Media also found that since 2019, an increasing number of Canadians have begun to believe the cost of living crisis and inequality are both worsening in the country.
As Canadians' economic outlook has grown increasingly pessimistic, we've observed a striking correlation with feelings of powerlessness. The profound rise in economic concerns naturally correlates with heightened sentiments of being pushed around in life. Back in 2019, 55% of those who reported a significant worsening in the cost of living felt pushed around, compared to 43% experiencing a moderate worsening and only 35% among those reporting stability. In our 2024 survey, this trend has intensified: 66% of Canadians noticing a significant increase in living costs feel pushed around, alongside 51% with a moderate increase, and even 46% among those reporting stability in living costs.
The cost-of-living gauge isn’t the sole indicator on the move. There has been a notable shift in perceptions of inequality within Canadian society, which has also fueled a sharp increase in feelings of powerlessness.
To assess perceived inequality, we employed a well-established approach utilized for decades in the International Social Survey Programme’s Social Inequality Module. In our survey, participants were presented with a diagram depicting five different societal types and were asked: “Which diagram best represents Canada today?”
Type A depicts extreme inequality, characterized by a small elite at the top, a sparse middle class, and the majority positioned at the bottom. In our 2019 survey, only 19 percent of respondents viewed Canada through this lens. However, by 2024, a significant 38 percent perceive Canada in this stark manner. Conversely, the percentage identifying Canada as a middle-class society (Type D) dropped from 26 percent to 15 percent.
The dramatic shift in perceived inequality over just five years is notable — and so is its deepening association with feelings of powerlessness. In 2019, half of those who saw Canada as Type A reported feeling pushed around in life; now, that figure has risen to 68 percent. The perception of extreme inequality in Canada today appears to amplify feelings of powerlessness even more intensely than before.
The perception of worsening affordability, coupled with an increasingly unequal Canada, is creating a volatile situation where people feel less in control of their daily lives. The ability to progress now seems more contingent on the decisions of powerful figures.
This trend raises serious concerns about our collective psychological health. Those who feel the least empowered often experience heightened distress and a lack of trust in others — indicators of ongoing anxiety, despair, and suspicion regarding the economic outlook.
The growing sense of powerlessness among Canadians highlights significant economic and social divisions. Addressing these issues is essential to enhance the overall well-being and mental health of Canadians. Our collective quality of life is clearly at risk.
For questions or comments write to writers@bostonbrandmedia.com
Source: theconversation
