The government-mandated lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic—and, in some cases, the fear of going outside—have recently underscored the value of domestic space, transforming it into the stage for the most evident and characteristic human actions and reactions within a capitalist and patriarchal system.
On one hand, as a direct consequence, social issues have intensified—such as gender-based violence, poor or nonexistent communication between peers, abusive power dynamics, verbal abuse, and a sense of helplessness when confronting our own anxieties, fears, and anguish. On the other hand, we have begun to develop the capacity to connect with ourselves and others through a forced, deep self-reflection that fosters awareness, creativity, and leisure. Mandatory confinement has pushed us toward hands-on crafts, home repairs, engaging and enriching conversations, close and empathetic contact with children and adolescents, and the many activities that, out of sheer boredom, spring from each person's imagination.
