Perception, they say can also change realities. In the traditional culture of India, detachment from worldly stuff was emphasized on as to make perception redundant, so then reality is basically the truth, whatever it may be or mean.
I'll be damned if I had any clues as to how to apply such lofty principles to mundane worldly problems you describe. But changing societal consensus will be a nightmare when you have to navigate a wall, built by the conditioning that has been going on for decades. But a wall which can be brought down nevertheless.
Great read!