Which concept describes the potential power of individuals and groups to contest cultural norms and power structures?

• A. Circular Economy
• B. Deontology
• C. Agency
• D. Reputation Risk

Answer: (C)

Agency is the capacity of individuals or groups to act, make choices, and influence events within a social system. When people exercise agency, they can challenge or reshape cultural norms and power structures rather than simply conforming to them, showing that they’re not just passive recipients of society but active shapers of it. This idea is illustrated by social movements, protests, or everyday acts of resistance that push for change and redistribute power over time. In contrast, a circular economy focuses on designing production and consumption to minimize waste; deontology is a moral framework grounded in duties and rules guiding right action; and reputation risk concerns potential damage to how an individual or organization is perceived, not the empowerment to contest norms or power relations.