an essay about social injustice

168 Social Justice Topics for Students & Research Questions

Social justice essays are an excellent tool for demonstrating your awareness of the current issues in society. If you need inspiration to jump-start your paper, check out our list of unique social justice topics for students!

🔝 Top 10 Social Justice Topics for Students

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• Social Justice and Mental Health

Social Justice in Education

• Jay-Z’s Contribution to Hip-Hop and Fight for Social Justice
• Promoting Social Justice Through Serving God
• Freedom and Social Justice Through Technology
• Factors of Strategic Management of Social Justice
• Social Justice from a Philosophical Perspective
• Social Justice in the Modern World
• Social Justice Quotes from “The Wife’s Lament” by Beck
• Social Justice in Counseling Psychology

Looking for the hottest essay topics on social justice? We’ve got you covered! Read the following paragraphs to learn more!

Social justice in education advocates for equal learning possibilities for all students, irrespective of their wealth, gender, race, or background. It encourages educators and policymakers to challenge unequal privilege, promote high education standards, and disrupt societal inequality patterns. This way, they can enhance marginalized groups’ learning opportunities and potential.

Global Warming & Climate Justice

A climate justice approach tackles the underlying roots of climate change and deals with various social, racial, and environmental disparities. It highlights the disproportionate pressures of global warming on low-income and BIPOC communities worldwide, which are the people and places least to blame for the crisis.

Adult Sentencing for Juveniles

Social justice raises concerns about the legality and validity of adult sentencing for juveniles and its possible psychological harm to minors. Besides, it questions how these practices influence marginalized communities and contribute to broader societal inequalities. Thus, it advocates for a review of the juvenile justice system.

Homeless Rights

Social justice movements stand for the basic needs and legal rights of people experiencing homelessness, including access to safe housing and essential social services. It also fights against the marginalization of homeless individuals, calling for more inclusive policies and grassroots solutions to uplift these at-risk populations.

Mental Health Stigma & Justice

People with mental disorders often face discrimination and social barriers. Therefore, social justice highlights the need for equitable access to mental health care, supportive environments, and anti-stigma initiatives. Ultimately, it strives to create a society where mental health is put on par with physical health.

• Social Justice and Vulnerability Theories When the country’s economic analyzers assess the status of the economy, the older people are regarded as the first group of the population that is pulling the economy backward because they are entirely dependent.
• Social Justice in Social Work Practice The moral approach of social work is fundamentally based on the idea of social justice. Despite the numerous risks associated with advocating for social justice, criticizing injustice is one of the few courageous ways to […]
• Researching the Concept of Social Justice A special kind of justice is social justice, the subjects of which are large social groups, society as a whole, and humanity.
• Social Justice and Importing Foreign Nurses Evaluation Given the lag between the submission of the article and its publication, it means that these sources most likely reflect the situation with the recruitment of foreign-educated nurses by the end of the 2000s.
• Promoting Social Justice With Head Start Program This essay will discuss the role of the Head Start program in the promotion of social justice in the US, focusing on the values taught to the children and the activities that constitute the program.
• Religion, Politics, and Social Justice Organized religions want to change and implement rebranding to fit the new trend, concentrating on social justice in general rather than the individual spiritual aspirations of a person or a family.
• Social Justice and Its Relevance in This Century To put the issue in perspective, he references the civil rights movement of the 1960s and juxtaposes it against the fact that the US had a black president.
• Social Justice Arts as a Remedy for People The work led to the formation of the movement called Black Lives Matter which calls for an end to oppressing black people through law enforcement.
• Social Justice, Diversity and Workplace Discrimination It also includes the fair distribution of the national wealth and resources among all citizens and the unbiased treatment of all individuals.
• Social Justice: Why Do Violations Happen? If there is social inequality in a society, it must be corrected to serve the interests of the most oppressed groups of the population.
• Social Justice From the Biblical Point of View Furthermore, all oppressed and poor people are considered to be “righteous” in the Bible because it “is a reflection of God’s faithful love in action and his desire for justice and righteousness in this world”.
• Definition of Social Justice and Social Justice in Leadership They should evaluate the situation, identify areas that need improvement and develop a plan to support the achievement of social justice.
• Social Justice Leadership and Supervision While the concepts of leadership and supervision tend to be referenced within the clinical contend and primarily apply to the responsibilities of the professionals in mental institutions, the issues articulated in the article and chapters […]
• Uganda’s Economic Planning and Social Justice On the eastern, it borders Kenya, North is Southern Sudan, to the west is DRC and to the southwest is Rwanda, while to the South is Tanzania.
• Rise of Mental Social Justice It relates to the social justice leadership in clinical and supervisory practice in mental health settings by challenging the modern tenets of managerialism and neoliberalism.
• Social Justice in the US Healthcare System Social justice is a relatively broad concept, the interpretation of which often depends on the political and economic views of an individual.
• Conceptualizing Supervision in Search of Social Justice Based on these findings, it could be concluded that Social justice leadership is meant to become the remedy and the ideological, political, and medical opponent of the dominant positivist biomedical paradigm.
• Researching HIV, AIDS and Social Justice Disney claims that poverty and social injustice lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS among underprivileged people in all countries. The disease was a kind of stigma and infected people were subjected to discrimination and alienation.
• Equal Pay Convention Ratified by New Zealand and Ensuring Social Justice This paper seeks to identify whether the ratification of the International Labour Organisation equal pay for an equal value of work Convention by New Zealand delivered social justice to the women in the New Zealand […]
• Influence of Socioeconomic Status and Social Justice on Health in the US In the video, Richard David and James Collins have determined that racism, inappropriate social policies, and chronic stress are major social factors that lead to the delivery of low-weight babies among African American women.
• Social Justice Perspective Thus public health deals not only with the guarantee of a long healthy life but also regulate and control the death rate, try to expand the life interval, and other things that the policy of […]
• Deaf Youth: Social Justice Through Media and Activism The Deaf Youth USA for instance strives to educate, inspire, and empower the deaf youth to make difference in the communities.
• Social Justice and Feminism in America So as to make a change in this situation, the feminists in America took efforts to improve the condition of women.
• Equality of Opportunity and Social Justice: Affirmative Action If this is the situation in advanced nations of the world, the plight in the newly emerging states in Africa, Asia, and Latin America can easily be imagined as to how difficult would it be […]
• Christianity Religion and Asian World: Social Justice It was also said that the greatest botched opportunity in all church history was in the 1260s the court of the great Kublai Khan asked the Polos when they returned to Italy in 1269 to […]
• Advocating for Social Justice in Healthcare However, health care is also often related to the idea of social justice a term that describes the allocation of resources and benefits to people according to their needs and abilities.

Social Justice Speech Topics on Refugee Crisis

Millions of people become refugees due to war, hunger, poverty, persecution, or climate change. They often flee with only the clothes they wear and face immense difficulties securing shelter, food, and safety in unfamiliar countries.

• The primary strategies to solve the world refugee crisis.
• What is our responsibility to refugees?
• Analyzing the international response to the rising number of asylum seekers.
• The obstacles and prospects of integrating refugees into new communities.
• How can you support refugee children worldwide?

Social Justice Essay Topics on Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is a systemic issue that affects everyone struggling with high living costs, expensive housing, unemployment, and low-wage jobs. Even those with a steady income can face a temporary setback, such as job loss, medical emergencies, natural disasters, or family crises, which results in malnutrition.

• The effects of the food security crisis on global health.
• How crucial are food banks in mitigating global hunger?
• The paradox of food waste existing alongside hunger.
• Urban agriculture initiatives to handle the food gap.
• Examining the role of school breakfast in addressing childhood hunger.

Voting & Social Justice Topics to Write About

Thriving in a democracy requires citizens’ full participation and choice of leaders committed to social justice. Since marginalized communities still experience significant disparities in equitable access to various benefits, the value of voting becomes all the more evident.

• The impact of disenfranchisement on political representation.
• Voting rights and their relation to public trust in elections.
• The history of voting rights in the United States.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of voter education programs.
• The future of voting rights in an era of political polarization.

Social Justice Topics on Economic Inequality

The chasm between the poor and rich has grown in numerous countries over the past century. It has been exacerbated by government tax and labor policies and ongoing discrimination by race and gender.

• Gender wage gap: causes and consequences.
• The link between economic disparities and life expectancy.
• Economic inequality in urban vs. rural areas.
• Identifying historical causes of the racial wealth gap.
• How does income inequality impact educational outcomes?

Social Justice Presentation Topics on Ageism

Ageism is a bias based on age that unfairly disadvantages people. It permeates various aspects of life, from job opportunities and healthcare access to school experiences and beyond. It perpetuates stereotypes about what people can or cannot achieve at different stages of life.

• Ageism in media representation: prevalent stereotypes.
• Combating ageism through intergenerational programs.
• The economic outcomes of ageism for society.
• How does ageism affect lifelong learning and adult education?
• The main strategies for creating age-inclusive environments.

Social Justice Topics on Immigrant Rights

The immigration status throws up roadblocks for immigrants trying to access essentials like employment, education, a place to live, and healthcare. Many also experience discrimination and live under the ever-present fear of being uprooted from their homes and deported.

• The peculiarities of undocumented immigrant children’s educational rights.
• How does immigration status influence access to housing?
• Immigration reform as a solution to labor shortages.
• The obstacles faced by LGBTQ+ immigrants.
• Protecting the rights of migrant workers in agriculture.

Disability Education & Social Justice Topics for Students

The path to education is riddled with obstacles for students with disabilities. These challenges include a lack of ramps, elevators, heavy doors, inaccessible restrooms, and transportation. Moreover, some educators, staff, and students’ lack of awareness and sensitivity to disability issues can hinder equal access to educational services for disabled learners.

• How do cultural attitudes toward disability impact education?
• The benefits of arts education for children with disabilities.
• Supporting students with autism in the classroom: practical methods.
• Modern technology to assess students’ special needs.
• The limitations of co-teaching models in inclusive classrooms.
• Social Justice for Indigenous Women in Canada However, the problem of social justice or, to be more accurate, the lack thereof becomes especially poignant when considering criminal issues and their management, as well as the factors that contribute to reducing the rates […]
• Social Justice in Quality Health Care The provision of accessible health services is necessary to minimize the health risks of the low-income households and improve their quality of life.
• What Is Social Justice? To my mind, the two most important principles of justice that should be used to govern within a just society are the selection of highly virtuous state leaders and government representatives to put in charge […]
• Social Justice: Philosophy of Employment The philosophy of empowerment supports dignity and self-worth; as such, value to all people, regardless of their status or race is an important rule of empowerment.
• American Women’s Movements for Social Justice Like Alice Walker, Deborah Gray, and Collins, Tyra Banks continues the legacy of black women since she is ready to campaign against racism, sexism, and discrimination.
• Social Justice Group Work for Homeless Young Mothers The group discussed in the article was started for the purpose of assisting residents address the problem of homelessness especially in aspects of parenting and during pregnancy periods.
• Readings for Diversity and Social Justice: An Anthology In that way, the authors noted that racial and ethnic differences tend to produce impact on lives of communities in the entirety of their aspects, and thus can aggravate other social justice issues.
• Health Care Services: Social Justice Analysis For instance, the level of poverty in the USA is on the rise, and many people simply have no funds to purchase their health insurance. In conclusion, it is possible to note that social justice […]
• Black Lives Matter and Social Justice Social media is a new public platform that has proved to be extremely effective in fighting against the normalization of violence against African-Americans.
• Ethics and Social Justice in Education Policies The real-life problem that contributes to those controversies is the multicultural genuineness of the community that was exposed to the federal and state standard reforms that transpired throughout the last ten years.
• Administrative Constitutionalism and Social Justice The current point of view at the crimes and violence is predestined by the commercial pressure applied to the mass media sources. In the majority of the cases, popular media becomes the viral source of […]
• Counselors as Social Justice Advocates The compelling vision of social justice is to achieve “free, full, and equal participation” of all groups in society to realize their aspirations and mutual needs.
• U.S. Postal Service’s Ethics and Social Justice In spite of the fact that the current agency was organized in 1971, the background of the organization is related to the development of the first postal service in the country based on the U.S.
• David Miller’s Theory of Desert in Social Justice The dependence of rewards on the variety of external and conditional factors makes the public and scholars question the idea of the desert and its use for justice.
• Ethics Issues: Social Justice In other words, it is observed that an individual has a duty of ensuring that the law is followed while the government is expected to provide the basic rights and freedoms.
• Education and Social Justice The society should also reduce the gap between the poor and the rich. The current level of inequality explains why “every school should reinvent itself in order to deal with social injustice”.
• Social justice and the black – white achievement gap From a national perspective, the achievement gap between the Black and White is reported to have narrowed down in 2007 as compared to the same gap in 1990.
• Setting an Agenda for Social Justice According to Wilkinson, Brundrett is a professor of Educational Research in the Faculty of Education, Community, and Leisure and the head of the Centre for Research and Evaluation, in the Liverpool John Moores University.
• Prosperity and Social Justice The short story was also the subject of debate when it was first written because it failed to fit in any particular genre at the time.”The Yellow Wallpaper” was mostly considered a horror story when […]
• Social Justice: Wray’s Essential Aspects of Biblical Law and Justice Wray has conducted an extensive study on the subject of social justice and suggests that students taking any course on law or social justice must go back to the origins of these laws and justice, […]
• Social Justice: The Catholic’s Social Teachings on Justice The church also seeks to instill value in the prisoners’ lives through teachings and practices that accept prisoners as people who deserve to be treated with dignity.
• Social and Criminal Justice Responses to Sex Work The negative attitude of the community and the criminalization of sex works made workers of his industry vulnerable and susceptible for the physical assaults of men in the street, their customers and even policemen.
• Social Justice and the Australian Indigenous People The main idea behind the formation of the social justice commission was to give the indigenous Australian people choice by empowering them to stand up for their rights.
• Is Social Justice the Same Thing as Political Egalitarianism? An Analysis from a Theory of Justice Perspective This is the question that is likely to arise when one is analyzing social justice in the context of political developments in the society.
• Social Justice and Gay Rights This perception of gays was radically reformed thanks to the efforts of gay rights movements which trace their roots to the 1960s and the Stonewall Riots of 1969 which marked the birth of the gay […]
• The People Demand Social Justice: The Social Protest in Israel as an Agoral Gathering
• The Woman Who Spoke of Love and Social Justice
• Peace and Eco-Social Justice: Failed Distributive Justice, Violence and Militancy in India
• Spirituality, Women ‘s Issues, Sustainability, and Social Justice
• Multicultural Counseling Social Justice and Advocacy Reaction
• The Paradox of Dominate Ideologies in The Fight of Social Justice
• Letter from Birmingham Jail’ by Martin Luther King Jr. and Social Justice
• Richard Spencer and the Issues of Social Justice and White Nationalism
• The Moving Beyond Pity and Inspiration: Disability as a social Justice Issue by Eli Clare
• The Importance of Human Rights and Social Justice
• Social Justice: The Role of Higher Education, Criminality and Race
• Turning Points in the Lives of Chinese and Indian Women Leaders Working Toward Social Justice
• Paulo Freire’s Social Justice Idea
• Producing and Practicing Social Justice in Education
• Urban Social Justice: The Gentrification Debate
• The Role of Education in Society as Explained in Conell’s Social Justice in Education
• The Issues of the Canadian Social Services and Social Justice Domain
• Wellbeing, Freedom, and Social Justice: The Capability Approach
• The Principle of Social Justice and Advocacy Support
• The Biblical Prophets’ Teachings on the Love of God in Social Justice
• The Relationship Between Free Market and Social Justice
• Uneasy Bedfellows: Social Justice and Neo-Liberal Practice in the Housing Market
• The Ethics of Pricing and Access to Health Care: A Social Justice Issue
• Measuring Attitudes Toward Distributive Justice: The Basic Social Justice Orientations Scale
• The Importance of the Covenant House as a Symbol of Christian Social Justice
• Social Justice Orientation and Multicultural Environment
• The New Political Economy of J. S. Mill: The Means to Social Justice
• The ‘s Coat of Arms Are Trust, Empathy, and Social Justice
• The Vietnam War and Its Impact on The Creation of Social Justice
• Race Relations and Social Justice Problems
• Poverty, Inequality and Social Justice in Nonmetropolitan America
• Rape Culture, Rapth, and the Cycles of Social Justice
• The Three Social Justice Issues That Fires Me Up as a Citizen in the United States
• Social Justice and Mental Health: Linking Societal and Relational Issues Matters
• The Importance of Social Justice Is Universal Across
• Effective Practice During The Social Justice System
• The Issue of Social Justice Activism in Various Social Media Networks
• Sustainable Development and Social Justice: Expanding the Rawlsian Framework of Global Justice
• Once Upon Today: Teaching for Social Justice with Postmodern Picturebook
• The Congressional Black Caucus Use of Social Media for Social Justice Issues
• The Effective Teaching Techniques of Lisa Espinosa in Providing Information on the Topic of Cultural Relevance and Social Justice
• How Can Social Media Be Used to Promote Social Justice?
• How Does Social Justice Highlight the Relationship Between Social Welfare and Crime Control?
• Social Justice and Academic Success: Is Individual Effort Enough?
• Rawls’s Theory of Social Justice: How Decisions Are Made?
• Are Consultation and Social Justice Advocacy Similar Exploring the Perceptions?
• How Arc Advances Social Justice?
• What Are the Different Factors Affect Social Justice?
• What Does the Information Society Mean for Social Justice and Civil Society?
• What Is the Connection Between Curricular Practices, Social Justice and Democratic Purpose in the United States Education System?
• How the United States Has Both Market and Social Justice?
• What Is the Impact of Social Justice on The United States?
• What Is the Impact of Social Justice on Human Development?
• How Does Social Justice Actions Project?
• When High Pressure, System Constraints, and a Social Justice Mission Collide?
• What Is the Concept of Social Justice Social Work?
• What Is the Connection Between Free Market and Social Justice?
• What Is the Goal of Social Justice Education?
• What Social Justice Issues Are You Most Passionate About?
• What Is Consist Social Justice Western Perspectives?
• How Social Justice Course Changed My Outlook?
• What Are the Three Social Justice Issues That Fires Up as a Citizen in the United States?
• What Has Limited the Impact of UK Disability Equality Law on Social Justice?
• What Is Rawls’ Expanding Framework for Global Justice?
• How Does the Film “Lord of Flies” Relate to Social Justice?
• Does the Legal System Promote Social Justice?
• Are the People Demand Social Justice?
• Social Justice and the University Community: Does Campus?
• What Does “Social Justice” Mean?
• What Does Teaching for Social Justice Mean for Teachers?
• Why Is Education a Social Justice and Right for Each Child?

Why write about social justice at all? By covering this issue in your papers, you can act as a social justice advocate and help address current inequalities. Everyone should be able to achieve their goals and dreams if they put in the effort, regardless of their race, age, gender, and other characteristics.

If you’ve decided to discuss this topic in your writing, consider these tips:

• Focus on something specific. Choose a particular aspect of one social issue to make your writing clear and manageable.
• Conduct a detailed investigation. It’s easy to find some data supporting your stance on the issue and declare that your viewpoint is correct. However, you should also consider the opposing evidence to make informed and plausible conclusions about your selected social problem.
• Don’t confuse equity and equality. The former means that everyone gets the resources they need to thrive. In contrast, the latter describes a situation when everybody is treated the same way, regardless of their unique needs.
• Use subheadings. Give a separate title to each part of your paper devoted to a specific aspect of the problem. This way, you’ll help your reader navigate your writing and make your paper look neat.
• Distance yourself from politics. Social justice topics are inherently political because most solutions to social issues involve policy-level changes. However, try to distance yourself from political attitudes and work with factual information.

Visit IvyPanda for more social justice essay examples to boost your creativity!

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Essay on Social Justice

Students are often asked to write an essay on Social Justice in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Social Justice

Understanding social justice.

Social justice is the fair treatment of all people in society. It’s about making sure everyone has equal opportunities, irrespective of their background or status.

Importance of Social Justice

Social justice is important because it promotes equality. It helps to reduce disparities in wealth, access to resources, and social privileges.

Role of Individuals

Every person can contribute to social justice. By treating others fairly, respecting diversity, and standing against discrimination, we can promote social justice.

In conclusion, social justice is vital for a balanced society. It ensures everyone has a fair chance to succeed in life.

Also check:

• Paragraph on Social Justice

250 Words Essay on Social Justice

Social justice, a multifaceted concept, is the fair distribution of opportunities, privileges, and resources within a society. It encompasses dimensions like economic parity, gender equality, environmental justice, and human rights. The core of social justice is the belief that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social opportunities irrespective of race, gender, or religion.

The Importance of Social Justice

Social justice is pivotal in fostering a harmonious society. It ensures that everyone has access to the basic necessities of life and can exercise their rights without discrimination. It is the cornerstone of peace and stability in any society. Without social justice, the divide between different socio-economic classes widens, leading to social unrest.

Challenges to Social Justice

Despite its importance, achieving social justice is fraught with challenges. Systemic issues like discrimination, poverty, and lack of access to quality education and healthcare are significant roadblocks. These challenges are deeply ingrained in societal structures and require collective efforts to overcome.

The Role of Individuals in Promoting Social Justice

Every individual plays a crucial role in promoting social justice. Through conscious efforts like advocating for equal rights, supporting policies that promote equality, and standing against discrimination, individuals can contribute to building a just society.

In conclusion, social justice is a fundamental principle for peaceful coexistence within societies. Despite the challenges, each individual’s conscious effort can contribute significantly to achieving this noble goal. The journey towards social justice is long and arduous, but it is a path worth treading for the betterment of humanity.

500 Words Essay on Social Justice

Introduction to social justice.

Social justice, a multifaceted concept, is often described as the fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, where outside factors that categorize people into social strata are irrelevant. It encompasses the idea that all individuals should have equal access to wealth, health, well-being, justice, privileges, and opportunity irrespective of their legal, political, economic, or other circumstances.

Origins and Evolution of Social Justice

The concept of social justice emerged during the Industrial Revolution and subsequent civil revolutions as a counter to the vast disparities in wealth and social capital. It was a call for societal and structural changes, aiming to minimize socio-economic differences. The term was first used by Jesuit priest Luigi Taparelli in the mid-19th century, influenced by the teachings of Thomas Aquinas. Since then, the concept has evolved and expanded, encompassing issues like environmental justice, health equity, and human rights.

The Pillars of Social Justice

Social justice rests on four essential pillars: human rights, access, participation, and equity. Human rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled. Access involves equal opportunities in terms of resources, rights, goods, and services. Participation emphasizes the importance of all individuals contributing to and benefiting from economic, social, political, and cultural life. Equity ensures the fair distribution of resources and opportunities.

Social Justice in Today’s World

In the 21st century, social justice takes many forms and intersects with various areas such as race, gender, sexuality, and class. It is increasingly associated with the fight against systemic issues like racism, sexism, and classism. The Black Lives Matter movement, for instance, is a social justice movement fighting against systemic racism and violence towards black people. Similarly, the #MeToo movement is a fight for gender justice, aiming to end sexual harassment and assault.

Despite the progress, numerous challenges to social justice persist. Systemic and structural discrimination, political disenfranchisement, economic inequality, and social stratification are just a few. Moreover, the rise of populism and nationalism worldwide has further complicated the fight for social justice, as these ideologies often thrive on division and inequality.

Promoting social justice requires collective action. Individuals can contribute by becoming more aware of the injustices around them, advocating for policies that promote equity, and standing up against discrimination. Education plays a crucial role in this process, as it can foster a deeper understanding of social justice issues and equip individuals with the tools to effect change.

In conclusion, social justice is a powerful concept that advocates for a fairer, more equitable society. While significant strides have been made, numerous challenges remain, necessitating a continued commitment to promoting social justice. Through education and advocacy, individuals can play a crucial role in this ongoing effort. The pursuit of social justice, therefore, is not just a societal or institutional responsibility, but an individual one as well.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Justice
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Social Justice 101: Meaning, Principles, Facts and Examples

“Social justice” has been a popular buzzword for many years. It seems to appear everywhere from corporate press releases to grassroots activists’ speeches. In the United States, the recent surge in book bans has targeted teaching on social justice. What does social justice mean and why has it become such a hot-button phrase? In this article, we’ll explore the history and principles of social justice, important facts, and three key examples.

Social justice examines the fairness of a society’s wealth distribution, as well as the distribution of privileges and opportunities. Discrimination based on traits like race or gender goes against the principles of social justice, which include human rights, access, participation, and equity.

What are the origins of social justice?

The origins of social justice date back to ancient Greece and the philosopher Plato. Plato saw harmony and balance as essential to justice within the human soul and within the city-state. In the soul, there’s reason, spirit, and appetite . Reason must lead the soul, while spirit and appetite should be kept under control. In Plato’s ideal city-state, there are guardians, auxiliaries (soldiers), and producers, such as farmers. In Plato’s view, philosopher-kings are the best guardians because they represent reason. They are therefore the best at making decisions that serve the common good. Harmony depends on everyone knowing their place. This doesn’t sound like social justice as we know it today. While Plato’s hypothetical philosopher-kings made decisions based on what’s best for everyone, the lack of democratic processes wouldn’t fit with today’s values.

The phrase “social justice” wasn’t coined until the 19th century. Luigi Taparell d’Azeglio , who was a Jesuit priest, based this new term on his Catholic beliefs. His social justice meant using religious values to determine what’s best for society. Like Plato, hierarchies were important to d’Azeglio. As the Industrial Revolution began, social justice morphed into an economic term, and then eventually a term that meant everyone should work for the common good.

What does social justice mean today?

In the 1970s, American philosopher John Rawls played a big role in defining what social justice means today. He developed the concept of “justice as fairness.” In this concept, justice is tied to inequality and how social goods are distributed. In Rawls’ view, all social goods should be distributed equally unless an inequality benefits everyone, but especially those who have the least. This is based on the understanding that everyone is equal.

Today, social justice is about the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges in society. Social injustice exists when discrimination and inequalities lead to negative outcomes.

What are the principles of social justice?

You’ll see several principles of social justice depending on where you look, but we’ve found four common ones :

Human rights

Social justice states that everyone is equal and deserving of human rights. This is why discussions about human rights and social justice are so intertwined. Many use the phrases almost interchangeably, although they have a few key differences. “Human rights” often refer to the absolute bare minimum: right to life, food, education, safe housing, decent work, etc. They’re based on international laws and treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Social justice is less clearly defined and often asks deeper questions about fairness and distribution.

A socially-just society gives everyone equal access to wealth, opportunities, and privileges. If someone’s access to things like healthcare or education is restricted because of gender, race, ethnicity, class, age, or ability, they’re being discriminated against. A society that enables or allows discrimination cannot be just. It creates hierarchies of inequality. As a social justice principle , access is about breaking down hierarchies, increasing access, and making sure no one faces discrimination.

Participation

When it comes to ending poverty, racism, sexism, and every other social problem, those most affected by problems are uniquely qualified to solve them. As a principle, participation is all about making space for and empowering those who have been silenced. Participation is a principle of democracy, too, which is essential to achieving equality, freedom, and accountability.

People are always debating what equity means and what it looks like in practice, but long story short, equity is a way to achieve equality while recognizing existing inequalities. As an example, let’s say you have a company with two employees. One is a white man and the other is a Black woman. Because of historical inequality, the white man makes more money despite doing a similar job. When it comes time to give raises, equality would look like giving two employees the same amount of money. That’s fair, right? Not really. The Black woman still makes less despite doing the same job. Equity, on the other hand, means giving her a larger raise so her salary finally matches that of the white male employee. This is technically an unequal distribution, but as John Rawls would point out, unequal distributions are acceptable when they benefit the person who is at a disadvantage. The white employee may be getting a smaller raise, but he’s not harmed.

What are three key facts about social justice?

Social justice is complex, but here are the three relevant facts everyone should know:

#1. Interest in social justice has been increasing

Social justice is not a new term, but interest has been increasing. According to Google Trends, the term “social justice” has been searched more and more. In worldwide data from 2004 to the present , there was a huge spike in searches in September 2020. Why that date? There were global protests against police brutality, racism, and inequality during the summer and fall of 2020. Since then, global searches for “social justice” have remained high.

#2. Corporations use the language of social justice to attract customers

Google searches aren’t the only sign of social justice’s increasing popularity. Corporations have noticed and are co-opting social justice language. Why? Consumers want the businesses they support to embrace social justice values. According to one survey , 70% of consumers wanted to know what brands are doing to address social and environmental issues. 46% said they pay “close attention” to a brand’s social responsibility. The 2020 article “ We’re Entering the Age of Corporate Social Justice” states that companies with effective Corporate Social Responsibility programs do better than those that don’t. Efforts often don’t go beyond marketing, however. Too many companies whitewash their social justice and human rights records with slick PR. Customers who truly care about social justice need to be wary.

#3. “Social justice warrior” is an insult

Many terms with politically-progressive origins get twisted into insults. There’s no clearer example than the phrase “social justice warrior.” According to Daily Dot , the term (which is abbreviated as “SJW”) came from the once-massive microblogging website Tumblr. It was initially used as a positive term – social justice is good, so those who fight for it are good – but it soon birthed a cottage industry of anti-SJW memes. They weren’t all coming from racists or sexists; many anti-SJW posters simply felt the warriors were going “too far.” This can muddy the waters around an issue because it’s often unclear what exactly people are opposed to. Do they have a problem with social justice itself or merely the tone/method an alleged “SJW” is using? On the other hand, is criticism of the tone/method actually a smokescreen for a more insidious opinion? Arguing about who is or isn’t an SJW often distracts from real issues. It’s hard to be productive when insults enter the mix.

What are three examples of social justice issues?

There are many social justice issues facing the world today. Here are three of the most important ones:

Income inequality

Income inequality has been an issue for years, and in many ways, it’s getting worse. According to the 2022 World Inequality Database repor t, income gaps within countries are increasing. The gap between the average incomes of the bottom 50% and the top 10% has almost doubled in twenty years. Globally, the world’s richest 1% grabbed $42 trillion of the new wealth created between December 2019-December 2021, while just $16 trillion was distributed among the rest of the world. Social justice is about fairness. This type of income inequality is clearly unfair.

The gender pay gap

Sexism plays a big role in inequality. According to the 2022 Women, Business, and the Law report from the World Bank, about 2.4 billion women of working age didn’t get equal economic opportunities. 95 countries don’t guarantee equal pay for equal work. Within countries, there are even more inequalities. In the United States , women earn on average about $.82 for every dollar a man earns, but Black women earn $.63. Hispanic and Latina women earn just $.58 for every dollar a white man makes. The work sector also matters; in non-profits and government agencies, women earn $.85 for every man’s dollar. This is better than what women earn in private, for-profit companies ($.78 for every dollar), but that’s weak praise.

Climate change

According to a recent UN report , global greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut in half by 2030. If this goal isn’t reached, irreversible damages are extremely likely. Climate change is one of the most urgent social justice issues today. It affects billions of people and worsens existing social justice issues like food insecurity, gender inequality, children’s rights, poor health, and more. To make things even more unfair, the countries that pollute the least are the most vulnerable to climate change’s effects. These countries (many in Africa) keep emissions low, but climate change doesn’t care about borders.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

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The tragic deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky have shown the world how deeply embedded racial injustice and racism are in the social fabric of the United States.

These recent acts of violence have raised a set of complex and challenging questions about inequality in our society: Why are Black Americans repeatedly targeted by the police? What can be done to stop further atrocities against minority communities from occurring? As some protests against these deaths turn violent, are political protests and demonstrations an effective way to instigate change? How can we build a more just society?

These important questions are among the subjects of Stanford scholars’ work. Some researchers have worked with police agencies to develop recommendations for how officers can build safer and stronger relationships with the communities they serve. Others have examined what makes some political protests effective and why others turn violent. Researchers have also looked at how racial injustice cuts across other parts of society – such as schools and workplaces – and what can be done to reduce disparities. Here is some of that research and more.

Identifying bias in the police

Stanford social psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt  has worked with police departments across the country to help them recognize implicit bias and understand racial disparities in policing. Her work with the Oakland Police Department, for example, resulted in 50 recommendations about how police agencies can build better relationships with the communities they serve.

Eberhardt’s work with the Oakland Police Department underscores how important data and transparency is for police agencies to identify specific problem areas and create evidence-based solutions.

“Our recommendations are broad but are anchored in our primary mission of pushing agencies to collect more data and to do more with the data they collect,” wrote Eberhardt in the report. “For many agencies, this will require a change in mindset: it requires seeing themselves not only as crime-fighting institutions but also as institutions of learning.”

Helping communities leverage better data between the police and the public are Sharad Goel, a professor of management science and engineering, and Cheryl Phillips, a computational journalist and lecturer at Stanford. Together, they founded the Stanford Open Policing Project , to help researchers, journalists, and policymakers investigate and improve interactions between police and the public.

Cops speak less respectfully to black community members

Professors Jennifer Eberhardt and Dan Jurafsky, along with other Stanford researchers, detected racial disparities in police officers’ speech after analyzing more than 100 hours of body camera footage from Oakland Police.

Stanford big data study finds racial disparities in Oakland, Calif., police behavior, offers solutions

Analyzing thousands of data points, the researchers found racial disparities in how Oakland officers treated African Americans on routine traffic and pedestrian stops. They suggest 50 measures to improve police-community relations.

Numbers about inequality don’t speak for themselves

In a new research paper, Stanford scholars Rebecca Hetey and Jennifer Eberhardt propose new ways to talk about racial disparities that exist across society, from education to health care and criminal justice systems.

Helping journalists use data for investigative reporting

Stanford University scholars are launching a data-driven initiative to help journalists find stories at a lower cost, to support local newsrooms explore public interest issues and fight against misinformation.

A ‘veil of darkness’ reduces racial bias in traffic stops

After analyzing 95 million traffic stop records, filed by officers with 21 state patrol agencies and 35 municipal police forces from 2011 to 2018, researchers concluded that “police stops and search decisions suffer from persistent racial bias.”

Race and mass criminalization in the U.S.

Stanford sociologist discusses how race and class inequalities are embedded in the American criminal legal system.

Raising awareness and creating change

As protest erupts across the country, what makes some demonstrations more effective than others? Stanford sociologist Robb Willer is studying what causes certain social protests to be successful and others to backfire. For example, he studied violent confrontations between white nationalist protesters and anti-racist counter-protesters in both Charlottesville, Virginia, and Berkeley, California, and found that violence by anti-racist protesters can lead people to view them as unreasonable, which may, in turn, lead to people identifying less with the group.

Willer, a professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences and the Graduate School of Business (GSB), also found that when anti-racists turn their protest into violence it can backfire even further: In some cases, it can even result in support for the other side.

Some of Willer’s colleagues in GSB have also studied what makes social movements successful. For example, Sarah A. Soule , the Morgridge Professor of Organizational Behavior, has studied how social movements are more effective when they are part of coordinated efforts with legislators. 

“With the rise of the internet,” Soule said, “modern movements can mobilize constituents through their websites and social media. If your end goal is to get 500,000 people to turn up on the Mall in Washington, D.C., Twitter is great at that. Facebook is great at that. But if your goal is to actually make lasting change in the system, you have to work within the system – to essentially get a seat at the table.”

How violent protest can backfire

When a protest group with strong public support turns violent, people may perceive them as less reasonable. In turn, this leads people to identify with them less, and ultimately become less supportive, according to a new study by Stanford sociologist Robb Willer.

It takes more than mass protests to drive change

Those large-scale protests on everything from climate change to wealth inequality make for engaging news segments. But do they result in real change? It turns out social advocacy organizations have greater impact on federal legislation when their experts get to testify.

Robb Willer: The powerlessness paradox

Researchers find that feeling powerless can lead people to support systems that disadvantage them.

Seven factors contributing to American racism

Of the seven factors the researchers identified, perhaps the most insidious is passivism or passive racism, which includes an apathy toward systems of racial advantage or denial that those systems even exist.

Where do advocates come from?

A strong sense of conviction can both encourage and discourage people from speaking out.

How protests can swing elections

A new study shows that both liberal and conservative protests have had a real impact on U.S. House elections.

A better way to diffuse racial discrimination

Research shows why understanding the source of discrimination matters.

Building a more just future

Overcoming racial injustice requires a critical examination of how it cuts across different sectors of society, such as in the workplace and in schools. 

Sean Reardon , a professor in the Graduate School of Education, has looked closely at how poverty intersects with the educational achievement gap. While racial segregation is a major indicator of educational inequality, Reardon’s research has also shown the impact of attending impoverished schools on Black and Hispanic students.

“It’s not the racial composition of the schools that matters. What matters is when Black or Hispanic students are concentrated in high-poverty schools in a district,” said Reardon, who has set up the Educational Opportunity Project to help other researchers identify solutions in their areas to reduce educational disparities throughout the U.S.

Meanwhile, other researchers have shown how academic achievement can be hindered in other ways. For example, Claude Steele , a professor of psychology in the School of Humanities and Sciences, found that even if students are well-prepared, negative stereotypes can affect how they perform. 

School is not the only setting where stereotyping results in devastating consequences. Stanford research has also shown how it leads to hiring discrimination and underfunded companies, among other problems.

New evidence shows that school poverty shapes racial achievement gaps

Racial segregation leads to growing achievement gaps – but it does so entirely through differences in school poverty, according to new research from education Professor Sean Reardon, who is launching a new tool to help educators, parents and policymakers examine education trends by race and poverty level nationwide.

Access to program for black male students lowered dropout rates

New research led by Stanford education professor Thomas S. Dee provides the first evidence of effectiveness for a district-wide initiative targeted at black male high school students.

Science lessons through a different lens

In his new book, Science in the City, Stanford education professor Bryan A. Brown helps bridge the gap between students’ culture and the science classroom.

Toolkits help tackle real-world problems

A lab in the Psychology Department at Stanford has created a set of free toolkits to help people resolve complicated issues, including resources to help people deal with disagreements.

Stereotyping makes people more likely to act badly

Even slight cues, like reading a negative stereotype about your race or gender, can have an impact.

Race influences professional investors’ judgments

In their evaluations of high-performing venture capital funds, professional investors rate white-led teams more favorably than they do black-led teams with identical credentials, a new Stanford study led by Jennifer L. Eberhardt finds.

How emotions may result in hiring, workplace bias

Stanford study suggests that the emotions American employers are looking for in job candidates may not match up with emotions valued by jobseekers from some cultural backgrounds – potentially leading to hiring bias.

Racial disparities in school discipline are linked to the achievement gap between black and white students nationwide

Research using a Stanford database of test scores from all U.S. public schools is the first to document the relationship at a national level.

Teaching difficult histories

Michael Hines talks about why students need to hear their own stories reflected in history books and classes.

Reducing racial disparities in school discipline

Stanford psychologists find that brief exercises early in middle school can improve students’ relationships with their teachers, increase their sense of belonging and reduce teachers’ reports of discipline issues among black and Latino boys.

Addressing Racism and Social Injustice

• Posted June 16, 2020
• By Emily Boudreau

In a 2015 convening, the Harvard Graduate School of Education asked, “What strategies can educators use to promote justice, fairness, tolerance, and genuine communication in our schools and society?” The discussion came eight months after Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black male, was killed by a white police office in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking a campaign to confront racism and police violence. The conversation was moderated by Professor Paul Reville , director of the Education Redesign Lab , with panelists Tiffany Anderson, then the superintendent of the Jennings School District in Missouri; Tracey Benson , Ed.L.D.’16, now an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte; Ni’Cole Gipson, parent and social media activist; and Valeria Silva, former superintendent of St. Paul (Minnesota) Public Schools — all of whom offered insights on issues of race, inequality, and justice that resonate strongly today, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

Here are a few highlights from that discussion.

How Tiffany Anderson amplified student voice to make a difference

The Jennings District is directly outside of Ferguson. In the days following the murder of Michael Brown, Anderson found a way to bring her students together and provided them with the resources they needed to advocate for themselves and their communities. Here, she talks about that experience.

Tracey Benson on why schools are uniquely positioned to effect change and start the conversation

Schools play a role in perpetuating systemic racism and inequality. Benson explains why schools also may have the power to disrupt that very system.  

Ni’Cole Gipson on why schools need to partner with families and communities to promote justice

Gipson and other parents worked to create safe and loving spaces for Ferguson’s students. Here, she talks about her experience as a parent and the ways in which schools might better support the conversations she, as a black woman in America, needs to have with her son.

Valeria Silva on the work school personnel and leadership must do to pave the way for discussion

Racism often goes unnoticed because it’s engrained in the system of schooling. Silva talks about the work teachers and school leaders must do to be consciously anti-racist and uproot discriminatory practices.

Additional Resources

• Harvard EdCast: Notes from Ferguson
• Exploring the historical roots of the enduring segregation that undermines urban schools.
• Harvard EdCast: Unconscious Bias in Schools

Usable Knowledge

Connecting education research to practice — with timely insights for educators, families, and communities

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Higher Ed. at Harvard Event Addresses Looming End of Affirmative Action

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• October 17, 2021
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By Nora Lessersohn, A.M.

In the past few years, social, political, environmental, financial, and medical crises have made it abundantly clear that one’s race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or disability status directly affect/s their health, finances, work, education, and ability to live life itself. In response, colleges have started to ask their applicants to reflect on how they themselves have contributed to creating equitable and just outcomes for all. The following three prompts are exemplary:

Villanova : St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities?

Princeton : Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.

University of Richmond : Please share one idea for actions or policies that you think would begin to address an issue of racial or social injustice.

Such prompts may feel difficult for students who don’t consider themselves “political” (or those who simply understand how massive these problems are). But working towards equity and justice doesn’t begin and end with a protest or a social media post. In fact, you’ve probably worked towards these goals without even realizing it! Here are three questions to ask yourself to help you write a social justice essay.

1) How and when have I tried to be inclusive of others? Inclusion is an important element of working towards equitable social outcomes, whether it happens at a policy level, or at school with your peers. Have you made an effort to incorporate people from different backgrounds into an activity or conversation, whether in a sport, a club, or a social setting? This act could form the basis of a solid social justice essay in which you talk about the value of inclusion to your community.

2) How and when have I tried to help others? While not all assistance relates to issues of equity and justice, thinking about the times you have worked to help people will help you reflect on how your actions may have contributed to these goals. Have you worked as a tutor or mentor? Have you volunteered at a hospital? Have you organized a food drive? While you may not have thought about the macro effects of your service at the time, thinking now through the lens of equity and justice, how do you understand the work that you did? Is there something you could have done better (and will do in the future)?

3) How and when have I tried to ask difficult questions? For many, the first step in working for equity and justice is developing the awareness that there is systemic and racial inequality everywhere we look. When have you been most aware of these issues in society, and what questions did this awareness prompt you to ask? Who did you ask, or did you keep those questions to yourself (and why)? Reflecting on your own process of understanding could be a powerful way to engage with the topic of social justice, and a jumping off point for discussing how you would work towards a more equitable social world in college and beyond.

Hopefully, asking yourself these questions will help you realize that, even if you’ve never protested, posted, or even just “talked politics,” you may still have made an important effort to make the world a better place to live. 

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Social Injustice: Essays in Political Philosophy

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Hugh Lazenby, Social Injustice: Essays in Political Philosophy, The Philosophical Quarterly , Volume 65, Issue 261, October 2015, Pages 865–867, https://doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqv003

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Social Injustice is a collection of thirteen essays addressing a variety of topics including methodology in applied political theory, exploitation, torture, contractarianism and democracy. Only two of the essays are previously unpublished. These sandwich the other essays. The first is a defence of the idea that social injustice is an important research topic. The last is a taxonomy of three varieties of socialism (liberal, democratic and market) and an analysis of the core values these varieties share (equality and community). As the first essay is on the theme of the book, and is supposed to connect the other essays, I will dedicate the majority of this review to it.

Much political philosophy of the past fifty years has been concerned with identifying what a socially just state should look like. Social injustice has received relatively little attention. One explanation for this is the prevalence of the view that there is nothing interesting to say about injustice other than that it occurs when justice is absent. Bufacchi's central claim is that this view, and the corresponding focus on identifying a socially just state, is mistaken. For him, injustice may arise from a number of distinct sources. In order to begin to redress injustice, we must have an account of these sources. The study of injustice should therefore be given a kind of priority over the study of justice. Or, as he puts it rather more strongly, ‘before we can say anything meaningful about social justice, it is imperative to have a clear idea of what social injustice is, and why social injustice is the paramount social problem to be resolved’ (p. 3).

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Social Injustice

Essays in Political Philosophy

• © 2012
• Vittorio Bufacchi 0

University College Cork, Ireland

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Hartmut Kliemt Recommends “Violence and Social Orders” by Douglass C. North, John Joseph Wallis, and Barry R. Weingast

Toleration and the Law

• political philosophy

Table of contents (13 chapters)

Front matter, making sense of social injustice.

Vittorio Bufacchi

Why Political Philosophy Matters: The Imperative of Social Injustice

Studying social injustice: the methodology of empirical philosophy, the injustice of exploitation, torture, terrorism, and the state: a refutation of the ticking-bomb argument, the enlightenment, contractualism, and the moral polity, motivating justice, justice, equality, liberty, sceptical democracy, political scepticism: a reply to the critics, voting, rationality, and reputation, deliberative democracy in action, socialism in the 21st century: liberal, democratic, and market oriented, back matter.

'...a thought-provoking and compelling contribution to political philosophy, one that should be read by scholars of any discipline who are interested in social injustice.' -Siobhan O'Sullivan, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Irish Journal of Public Policy

'This essay offers an excellent example of what philosophical reflection can gain by taking seriously the relevant empirical information.' - Maria Paola Ferretti, Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, International Review of Sociology

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About the author, bibliographic information.

Book Title : Social Injustice

Book Subtitle : Essays in Political Philosophy

Authors : Vittorio Bufacchi

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230358447

Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan London

eBook Packages : Palgrave Religion & Philosophy Collection , Philosophy and Religion (R0)

Copyright Information : Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2012

Hardcover ISBN : 978-0-230-25160-1 Published: 08 November 2011

Softcover ISBN : 978-1-137-49490-0 Published: 08 November 2011

eBook ISBN : 978-0-230-35844-7 Published: 08 November 2011

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XI, 202

Topics : Political Philosophy , Social Philosophy , Political Science , Ethics , Political History

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Roosevelt Review (Archives, 2014-2018)

Archives of roosevelt review: the roosevelt university alumni magazine, faculty essay: what is social justice.

May 14, 2015 by Susan Torres-Harding, associate professor of psychology 2 Comments

Susan Torres-Harding is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology. Her research interests include understanding the impact of sociocultural factors on physical and psychological health and assessing the development of social justice attitudes and social activism. She earned her PhD in Clinical Child Psychology from DePaul University in 2001.

Social justice has always been an important value to me and a foundation for my career aspirations. Therefore, in 2006, I was pleased to join the faculty at Roosevelt University, a university founded on inclusivity and one with a strong focus on social justice and social action. I quickly realized that this was a friendly “home” where I could continue to discuss the impact of societal inequalities and discrimination in health care, my own area of research.

At the same time, I was intrigued by the reactions of friends and colleagues when I told them that I was now at Roosevelt. Invariably, I would meet people who had been at Roosevelt in those early years, and they would tell me stories about what a special place Roosevelt is. They described Roosevelt as a school where people of all races came together—a college unlike others. The pictures hanging on the walls of the Auditorium Building from those early years are visual reminders of this truly unique integration of people from diverse racial groups at a time when racial segregation was the norm. Today Roosevelt continues to be ethnically and racially diverse, but the world has changed since Roosevelt came into being in 1945. In addition to racial injustice, which regrettably remains prevalent in our society, we now truly confront other forms of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, social class and disability status.

As a Roosevelt psychology professor, I often talked in my classes about social justice as a key value for the Roosevelt community, but I found students grappled with the meaning of social justice. What is social justice? Whom is it for? Many students talked about social justice as if it were a high-minded ideal, unrealistic or impractical to do in real life. While we often discussed the need to use our knowledge and skills to work for a more fair and just society, I wondered if students had become overwhelmed with the amount of injustice in society and whether they believed they could actually make a difference in the world.

This led me to ask myself, what do students think social justice is all about? More importantly, I wanted to know what I could do to empower them to take action and strive to make a difference while at Roosevelt and after.

In response to these questions, I started a series of studies to investigate how students understood social justice and how, if at all, they were learning about our social justice message and integrating it into their own lives. What did all of this talk of social justice mean to the students? And, how could we, as educators, facilitate the goals of students who had the sincere desire to promote social justice, but who also had the notion that it was too hard, impractical, unrealistic or idealistic? As an educator, I had a personal stake in these questions. I wanted to know if integrating social justice concerns into my classes was actually making a difference in how students viewed themselves, their communities, and their own personal and professional actions. In other words, were we living up to the Roosevelt University mission of educating “socially conscious citizens”? Does talking about social justice make a difference, or is it all a lot of feel-good talk that is disconnected from reality?

Students Define Social Justice

To begin answering some of these questions, my research team and I embarked on a study to first understand how students defined social justice. In textbooks, researchers and educators define social justice as “involving the recognition of the existence of social injustices based upon being a member of a non-dominant or marginalized social group.” These marginalized social groups can include people who live in poverty, women, people who are LGBTQ, people who are disabled, people from racial and cultural minority groups, and people who have severe mental illness or have a substance abuse disorder. Researchers also defined social justice as “a value or desire to increase access of power, privileges and socioeconomic resources to people from socially marginalized groups.”

But is this how students thought about social justice? I believed it unlikely that most students would think about social justice in such abstract terms. So we conducted a study with Roosevelt students simply asking how they defined social justice. We found that students were relatively consistent in their definitions. They tended to describe social justice as addressing injustices in equality and promoting opportunity, rights, fairness and acceptance of everyone, including people from diverse backgrounds. Interestingly, a significant proportion (44 percent) of the students said they engaged in some activity that promoted social justice.

Additionally, we asked students to describe what they were actually doing to promote social justice. In most academic papers, social activism is defined as political activism: marching in protests, attending rallies, writing legislators or voting in order to promote policy or legal changes.

They tended to describe social justice as addressing injustices in equality and promoting opportunity, rights, fairness and acceptance of everyone, including people from diverse backgrounds.

Interestingly, there was a tremendous range of responses to our question. In addition to political activism, we identified many different categories of social justice activities, including conducting social-justice-related research, being a member of or volunteering for an organization that focused on social activism, seeking out educational opportunities to learn more about social justice, engaging in advocacy on behalf of people from disadvantaged or marginalized groups, and talking to family and friends about social justice.

What was most impressive to me was the creativity displayed by students as they sought to promote social justice, as well as the diversity of issues addressed by their actions. Many students reported participating in marches, protests and other direct social actions for economic or racial change. One participant was working to promote social justice by acting in a short film that aimed to foster acceptance of LGBTQ youth during the coming out process. Some students were using a social justice approach when providing clinical services to children with developmental disabilities. A few reported that they were engaged in youth mentoring or were working on behalf of youth within the juvenile justice system. Others were working to promote racial justice, women’s empowerment and awareness around diversity-related justice. Still others described being LGBTQ allies or serving as advocates for women who have endured domestic and sexual violence. We also had students who volunteered at community or religious organizations to help individuals around issues of poverty and food security.

A significant number of students indicated that they spoke with family or friends about these issues. I think that these kinds of actions are more quiet forms of activism. Discussing issues of social justice with significant others might have the impact of changing attitudes or gaining support from them. In turn, this might ultimately increase awareness of social issues and might influence others to take action in some way in their own lives.

Many of the students’ efforts involved using resources available at Roosevelt University. These included engaging in social-justice related research, attending lectures, being part of student groups and organizations that promoted social justice such as RU PROUD (a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and ally organization) and Students for a Sensible Drug Policy , engaging in social justice as part of their professional clinical training and volunteering as part of service learning. Although less than half of the students we surveyed reported engaging in activism, those who were active appeared to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available at Roosevelt, and many sought to integrate these experiences with their academic studies.

Connecting With The Mission

The second study that my research team and I conducted focused on the role of the University mission in promoting positive attitudes toward social justice. I wanted to understand whether students who felt more involved at the University and agreed with its mission were in fact more likely to engage in social activism. Interestingly, I found that students who reported having a high sense of community—that is, feeling as if they belonged to the “Roosevelt family”—said they valued the social justice mission more.

Students who respected the social justice mission were much more likely to state that they intended to work for social justice in the future and felt that they possessed the skills to effect positive change. These students were also more likely to report having engaged in social activism, talk about social justice issues with family and friends and personally identify as social activists. It seems that Roosevelt’s social justice mission influenced students by impacting both positive attitudes toward social justice and facilitating the integration of social justice concerns into their personal and professional lives. Feeling a part of the Roosevelt community mattered because it allowed them to share in this core community value.

Thus, the mission and values of Roosevelt University are having an impact on our students’ actions. We are currently conducting additional studies where we hope to follow undergraduate students over time to see how their ideas and views of social justice might change as they move from freshman to senior year. We are also interviewing student activists to learn from their unique experiences, motivations and perceptions of their own work.

Indeed, it has been a pleasure to be able to assess and document the amazingly diverse and creative activism that is going on at Roosevelt. In addition to the examples listed above, Roosevelt students have participated in walk-outs and rallies in Grant Park, lobbied at the state capital, made videos to help educate others about traditionally marginalized groups, conducted interventions to promote health and wellness in our communities, and organized programs that give our students and people in the community a voice. We have so much to learn from our students!

An important part of social justice education is to trust that students are able to evaluate the information we provide and use it in a way that is valid, realistic and relevant to their own lives. Because students are able to come up with so many unique and creative ways to address injustices in their interpersonal and professional lives, professors should not provide answers, but rather should pose questions to help students recognize the real challenges in our society. We can encourage them to critically evaluate their own views and the views of others and provide them with a range of interventions and interpersonal skills that they can then use to confront a range of social problems and issues in their own ways. We also need to recognize that this is hard, risky work.

An important part of social justice education is to trust that students are able to evaluate the information we provide and use it in a way that is valid, realistic and relevant to their own lives.

Working for social justice is, by its nature, “radical” because it focuses on changing the status quo, challenging existing policies and can involve breaking rules. As educators, it is important that we not only talk about social justice but provide students with the skills they need to take action and be effective. Promoting favorable attitudes and teaching interpersonal intervention and activism skills will have a positive impact on students and help them fulfill the Roosevelt mission of creating “socially conscious citizens” who change the world.

Contact Susan Torres-Harding at [email protected]

November 23, 2018 at 10:53 am

extremely nice one……..

[…] Faculty Essay: What is social justice? – Roosevelt Review – Faculty Essay; Scholarship Spotlight; Issue. Fall 2015; Spring 2015; Fall 2014; Faculty Essay: What is social justice … assessing the development of social justice … […]

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Social Injustice (Essay/Paper Sample)

Table of Contents

Social Injustice

In the modern society, issues of discrimination, inequality, racism, violation of human rights among others inform world policy. Why so much concern on such concepts with governments having laws governing people? Would it be ignorance, neglect or social injustice has prevailed? Unfair practices characterize social injustice. The unfairness arises from systematic deficiency of access to resources.  Despite the existence of laws to promote justice, prevalence of injustice is rampant. Unfortunately, social prejudice is a hindrance to development in a country.

Just institutions do reinforce a sense of well-being, stability and satisfaction among individuals. Different arms of the justice system such as the retributive, distributive, restorative and procedural mitigate against chauvinism in society. Nonetheless, there exist several silent cases of unfairness that never get to courts. Rawls indicate that justice occurs when people are free and equal. In essence, possession of the two morals that include a sense of justice and conception of good, constitute freedom. These two basic concepts form a society’s framework of social, political and economic institutions and their fit into a social system of cooperation. Basically, justice entails equal opportunities to individuals.

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Inequality has been a major factor affecting social justice. Social, economic or gender inequality across communities has led to rise of unfair treatment of persons on either one side of the inequality scale. For instance, income inequalities arising from employment discriminatory aspects do affect the poverty-rich gap. In most states, the poor make up the largest portion of the population compared to the affluent. As Marx states in his theory of social stratification, the ‘haves’ always suppress the ‘have not’ to maintain their status quo as owners of production. Such a society fails to recognize social justice. Often, the wealthy influence country laws which do function to protect their interest, rarely addressing the needs of the poor. Economic growth characterized by increase in Gross Domestic Product in nations never address inherent human development issues. Aspects of inequality predominate in wealthy states.  Thus, justice would take place by empowering the less advantaged people and giving them an equal platform to operate without bias.

Gender inequality as a social injustice concept also affects development of persons. Females get low wages, less access to resources like education and land with suppressed political say. Fairness calls for liberty to all individuals. Inequality causes other social evils like violence, abuse and engagement of the ill-treated individuals in terrorism acts. In addition, involvement in drug abuse and other crimes would arise as the discriminated group makes effort to attain their recognition in society. Embracing and implementing human right concept will be helpful in working towards the realization of social impartiality.

The social functionalism theory stipulate that every system, institution and model interactively work together to maintain a state of social equilibrium. For prejudice to prevail, not only law enforcers have the task but every person. Equality requires a collective measure within communities that meets social and individual needs. Most injustices occur due to failure of accountability among individuals. Social cohesion creates resilience against socially destructive practices such as racism, inequality and other unfair treatment.

Similarly, confrontation of discriminatory practices by the involved parties acts as a remedy against any societal unfairness. Moreover, legal authorities should be strict in enforcing rules and offer deserving punishment to lawbreakers. Also, community members should be made aware of their rights and the operation of the social justice system. This will enhance the development of a just social order within modern societies faced with immerse social injustices.