Social Injustice

Step 1: Read the definition of social injustice (Read the words in red for additional explanation)

Step 2: Read the Four Principals of Social Injustice

Step 3: Look at cartoon drawing

Step 4: Answer Questions and turn in via classroom

What is social injustice?

Definition of Social Injustice-A situation in which the rights of a person or a group of people are ignored, which prevents them from reaching their full potential.

Criteria for a social injustice issue

1. Is there is a right being ignored? (If yes, continue to number 2)

2. Is ignoring that right preventing someone from reaching their full potential? (If yes, it is a social injustice issue)

The four principles of social justice

As a term, “social justice” is vague and often misunderstood. To become a reality in every part of society – healthcare, education, employment, etc – social justice needs clearly-defined goals. With clear goals, solutions for change and progress are possible. A definition must consider four principles: access, equity, participation, and human rights.

Access

To serve the people, a healthy society must offer services and resources. These include education, healthcare, shelter, and food. However, in many societies, there’s unequal access. Education is a prime example of the consequences. When only people from a certain class can afford good schools, those with lower-paying jobs have to settle for less. This leads to those kids growing up and being unable to access certain jobs. In an unjust society, somebody’s race and sexuality can also limit services and opportunities. When everyone gets equal access, it helps even out the playing field.

Equity

Equity is different than equality. If social justice was only concerned with equality, it wouldn’t lead to a just society. As an example, let’s say two people need a health insurance plan. The benefits are identical and equal in every way, but one of the people has a chronic illness. In this case, “equality” can cause significant harm to the person who is ill. The two people with the same healthcare plan end up in very different places. Equitable healthcare considers the differences between the two people, adjusting to benefit the person who needs the most help. While “unequal” according to a strict definition, equity leads to a society with reduced inequalities.

Participation

The fourth principle for social justice is participation. Society must allow everyone to voice their concerns and take part in making decisions. If something affects a person’s life, that person needs to be a part of the process. If there’s only a select group calling the shots with others silenced through discrimination, that’s social injustice. This is where access and equity come into play again. Within most societies, participation is reserved for only a few. To increase access, society must remove barriers to participation. For equity, historically-undermined groups should be encouraged to speak.

Human rights

Human rights and social justice are two sides of the same coin. They can’t exist apart from each other. For a society to be just, it must ensure the protection of everyone’s civil, political, economic, cultural, and social rights. These rights include the right to life, the right to free speech, the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, and so on. Governments must be held accountable when they violate these rights or fail to protect them. Human rights might be the most powerful principle for social justice because they’re recognized internationally and enshrined in many treaties.

From: https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/four-principles-of-social-justice/

What are some topics that come to mind that MIGHT be social injustice issues? Think of 3 or 4.

Using our definition from the top, determine if they are social injustice issues (based on our definition).

Do you think something has to be classified as a social injustice issue to be important?

https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/social-injustice/57987

Some Examples:

discrimination, agism, racism, sexism, child neglect, poverty, etc.

For more information go here: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-social-justice-issues-facing-the-world.html