As a youth, I have been paying keen attention to the societal values that we have inherited from the previous generation. Certain belief systems and mentalities from previous generations are essential to forming a strong moral compass and foundation of values in our Belizean society. However, as someone who considers himself to have an open mind and more progressive mindset, I believe that some “old school” beliefs or mentalities still widely held in Belize can be quite limiting and toxic to certain members of society or society on a whole. In my view, a society’s state of development is not only measured quantitatively through economic and financial metrics but also qualitatively by the level of consciousness, open-mindedness and mental dispositions of its citizens.

Furthermore, many times persons who have views and values that are different from those of mainstream society, if not strong enough, find it difficult to be true to themselves and their values for fear of judgement and criticism. This is stifling for freedom of self-expression and encourages conformity. I believe it takes a certain level of strength for individuals to express thoughts and behaviors outside the mainstream and to not conform to limiting, sometimes “narrow-minded” beliefs. When persons are exposed to different environments and schools of thought, this helps to shift their mentality so that they can see things from a different angle. Persons who are socialized in an environment and don’t have much exposure to other viewpoints can be stuck with limited viewpoints for life and judge others who don’t hold the same value system. I will give several examples of toxic mindsets that are deeply embedded in our society and pervasive in our culture and social fabric.

In previous days, and even today, many Belizeans still believe that there is stigma surrounding the topic of mental health. For many, even speaking about mental distress is seen as “taboo”. The reality is that mental distress is very normal and doesn’t mean that one is “crazy”. I recall hearing stories of Belizeans being treated with disdain, ignored or discouraged from seeking help by even their own family members while suffering conditions like anxiety, depression, trauma, stress and other disorders. This is especially true for men who tend to cover up feelings and use less effective and harmful means to deal with these issues because it is still seen as “weak”. We should not be ashamed or afraid to seek therapy or other forms of interventions when necessary. These are very normal conditions which thousands of Belizeans suffer from at some point in life and need help with. Not starting a conversation about it can cause persons to feel that they are suffering alone, when this is far from reality. A progressive shift in collective mindset is needed to change the way we view mental health and the stigma surrounding it. Many Belizeans are so ashamed to tell others that they are having a hard time and subsequently hide their feelings, which I believe is a destructive way to live. Help is available, and sometimes interventions such as therapy, a support network, certain supplements, mindfulness-based practices or talking to someone can help tremendously. Persons need to do whatever is needed for their own wellbeing and look after their mental health rather than being scared to do so because of the opinions of others. When we show others it is not a big deal to openly discuss mental health, then we begin to normalize having open discussions about it. As a country, I think we can do a lot better in regards to the resources and attention given to help the many Belizeans who suffer both openly and silently.

There is also the pressure among young women who choose to forego having children at an early age. In Belize it is quite common for young women to start having children early. The fertility window is a valid argument as to why this happens and had happened in many previous generations. The problem arises when persons look down on young women for choosing to delay pregnancy for a few years in exchange for the pursuit of further education, a more stable financial situation or other personal choices. “Old school” mentalities make some of these women feel immense pressure and even “less than a woman” because they have a more progressive mindset in regards to childbearing. We are living in different times from those of the the previous generation and the one before that. In 2021 women no longer have to play the same roles that they previously played in earlier times. Even though most would agree that we still do not have full gender equality, women should be given full freedom to make whatever choices and be whatever they want in their lives.

This brings me to my next point, which is the exclusion of women from central government, which is also archaic. Some still hold “old-school” ideas that politics is a boys game and women shouldn’t be involved. In the year 2021, women’s rights should be respected and not confined based on old- school patriarchal beliefs. If a girl wants to be educated, be a leader in different capacities, speak her mind, run for politics, or do whatever she pleases, for that matter, she should be able to without any repercussions. A society shouldn’t place any limitations on any of its citizens but rather encourage everyone to reach their full potential. As men we can’t feel threatened by the empowerment of women, and if anyone does, I would suggest taking steps to further empower yourself rather than trying to keep an entire gender down. Women bring equal and unique skillsets to the table and should be given more opportunities at the policy-making level to help develop our nation.

Another point I would like to make is that in Belize, in some segments of society, there exists a culture of hypermasculinity: Men/boys shouldn’t show emotions, and must always be macho and strong. This is destructive, because many boys learn to repress emotions and internalize pain. Pain and trauma are stored within boys and men, and if they do not know how to properly release it or express it, this often leads to and manifests itself through toxic or self-destructive behaviors. In certain segments of society it would seem that the only socially acceptable way for many boys and men to express these painful emtions without coming off as weak is through negative outlets such as crime, domestic abuse and violence, for example. Through our social institutions, such as in the family, the media, and the schools, we need to teach our boys the life skills for dealing with and channeling negative emotions and not expressing them in a way that harms others. This, I believe, is true strength, rather than being reactive to every situation.

Brainwashed colonial mentalities which reflect the view that lighter-skinned Belizeans with straighter hair are more attractive or appear more professional are still prevalent in Belize. This is evident in a recent incident which drew national attention, when a work superior had the audacity to tell a young lady that her own natural hair was not professional and should not be displayed at her workplace. Furthermore, comments such as “picky head” or demeaning comments about complexion and hair texture are all rooted in the history of racism and ignorance. This often leads to self-esteem issues for young, black women. However, it is good to see more young women nowadays rejecting the deeply rooted colonial view that straight hair is the only “good hair” and embracing their natural hairstyles. Belizeans with darker shades of complexion like myself are also sometimes still discriminated against by members of society, including the police. As a young black male in Belize City, I could remember several occasions in my life when I have been stopped and questioned by police for no reasonable cause. In my teenage years, I would naively allow this violation of my rights to go unquestioned. However, in a more recent incident, I made clear to the officers that I know my rights and wouldn’t allow them to conduct an illegal search of my vehicle with no reasonable cause because of the color of my skin.

Political tribalism is also a destructive practice passed down through several generations. Many Belizeans blindly support a political party for their entire lives regardless of candidates, competence of the party or wrongdoings of the party. It is not uncommon to hear that persons will vote for a particular party because “their granny da PUP or UDP so they da PUP or UDP”. While there is nothing wrong with supporting your party of choice, many Belizeans are so divided along party lines that they tolerate and defend anything their party does. This, I believe, is destructive for national development. We should be able to unite and put the country’s interests first regardless of political affiliation in order to hold those in power accountable. As a society we play the blame game too much in the political arena. We are quick to point fingers at the other party’s wrongdoings but unwilling to point fingers at our own party as well and hold them accountable. This division among party lines makes it easy for the population to be divided and controlled. National interests should come before party interests, but many Belizeans are afraid to lose the benefits or quid pro quo they get or may get from these major parties.

These are just a few of the many toxic old-school mentalities that exist in Belize. As a nation we should be aware of how harmful these mentalities can be and strive to do better. I believe a first step towards moving away from those limiting beliefs is to recognize them for what they are. This is why I try to share knowledge and opinions for those who may also find truth in them or to get others to see things from a different perspective. Sometimes we do not realize certain mentalities and characteristics are destructive unless it is brought to our attention. If we begin to open our minds and our hearts, if we begin to recognize and move away from destructive habits and mentalities, we would create a more harmonious society.