At the beginning of this course, I thought of social justice as: “I would define social justice as what is fair for one is fair for all.” However, as the course went on I got to discover so much more than my original idea. My favorite exploration was in week 6 when we looked at the arts. The arts have always been a powerful means of expressing social justice issues. From literature to visual arts, music to dance, creative expression has the power to communicate complex ideas and emotions in a way that can be deeply impactful and thought-provoking. Through art, individuals can share their experiences and perspectives on issues like inequality, discrimination, poverty, and systemic oppression. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of these …show more content…
The relationship between social justice and civic responsibility is another interesting thing to dive into and explore. I concluded that when individuals take on civic responsibilities, they are actively participating in the democratic process and working towards a more just and equitable society. By voting, for example, individuals can help elect leaders who prioritize social justice issues and advocate for policies that promote equality and fairness. By volunteering, individuals can support organizations that work towards social justice causes, such as providing resources for marginalized communities or advocating for policy change. When reviewing conversations with my classmates and the resources they shared, I found ones that were direct and to the point to be the most thought-provoking and helpful. Some of my classmates shared personal stories that helped me understand the realities of discrimination and inequality in our society, and I am so grateful that they wanted others to learn through their stories. I got to explore many of my classmates' professions and see which companies were attempting to be just and equal for
Through the courses that I have taken thus far, I have learned about and experienced many rewards of teaching for social justice. However, I have also learned about the challenges of teaching for social justice, such as mismatches, racial stigmas, and avoiding oppressive teaching, to name a few. From course readings, the dispositions, and real-life situations, I have been able to grasp the understanding of being a teacher for social justice.
The task of identifying my social identity was easier said than done. I acknowledged the somewhat privilege I encounter along with the oppression I endure. In retrospect, my social identity unambiguously resembles a coin where on one side oppression lies with dirt rusting but on the flip side privilege stares right back at me, shining bright. I initially could not see the benefits since I’m a low income college student. I became too encompassed with one side of the coin. After we learned what the word, privilege, indeed meant, I realized the various facets of my life in which that word could apply. Self pity can greedily advance on you from out of nowhere thus averting you from flipping the coin. I familiarized with counting my struggles instead of my blessings. In accordance with my social identity I would say I’m privileged with the
When the majority of teachers in America are White, middle class women who only speak English in a country were students are starting to come from a multitude of backgrounds it is no wonder problems are arising. As more people from different cultures and religions immigrate to the United States the average classroom is losing the cultural uniformity it had in the past. Though the faces in classrooms are steadily changing many teachers have not been able to adjust as quickly to the ever growing diversity taking place. One would expect for teachers to still be able to teach students effectively whether they share a similar background or not, but in actuality cultural conflicts between teachers and students are only getting worse. Especially when
My definition of social justice in the field of education is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child and the British-Colombia School Act that state that every child has a right to a proper education (UNICEF, n.d.; School Act, RSBC 1996, c. 412). A proper education to me is based on opportunity. I believe that in order to have a proper education, children should all be entitled to equal opportunity in their learning process. Children should have equal opportunity to obtain the supports that will assist them in achieving their potential.
“We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape It.”; quoted by Barack Obama. This quote represents that all gender and races can come together to make a better society. Human beings were not put on earth to live in fear or fear the future that awaits them. Their mission is to serve a special purpose in society. By helping to create a better society, there would be fewer problems to worry about in cases such as education, economic, social, and health problems. By all races and genders accepting and respecting one another personal beliefs, they can create a more just, sustainable, fair society. “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost, “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes, “Ain’t I a Woman” by Sojourner Truth, and ‘No Bikini” by Ivan E.
Institutions that affect our social justice views can include religions, schools, our government, social networking and media. Our own identity of ourselves is highly impacted by the restrictions and judgments that come along with these institutions. Whether you believe in it or not, you are impacted directly by the views from these institutions. The views of these institutions can be a determining factor in your decisions, because if you decide the rebel against these views you can look like an outsider. Social justice defines what should be done in order the live the perfect American Dream, be socially acceptable, fulfill life to the fullest and be an active member of society.
7) Apply their knowledge of social justice and social issues to their own personal and/or professional
Not only do we need to understand the ‘issue’ or ‘societal problem’ that many people face and are impacted by every day, but we need to meet and work alongside those whose daily realities are shaped by injustices, while not creating any divides or barriers in the process. Everyday people are affected by the issues that organizations fight for or against, and once we realize how people-centered things like advocacy, outreach and service are, I believe young people will realize their call to action and their potent...
Social justice is a core value in the social work field. We define social justice as, “all citizens would possess equal fundamental rights, protection, opportunities, obligations and social benefits (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015, p. 29). Unfortunately, we understand there are many members in today’s society that are not receiving social justice. Some may not want help and believe that s/he is able to do it on their own and then there are the individuals that we may not know about that could really use our help. Our jobs as social workers is to help those who need help no matter if they are rich, poor, disabled, white, Hispanic, it does not matter because everyone should be treated equally. As NASW states, “The original mission of social work had much to do with championing the rights of society’s most vulnerable members, from children to homeless people to the physically disabled” (NASW: National Association of Social Workers, 2015, para. 1).
“Social Justice in Education” by R. W. Connell discusses the role of education in society and the implications that social justice issues have on education. Connell begins by establishing that education and social justice can be examined separately yet they are inescapably linked through the social medium of their implementation. “Education concerns schools, colleges and universities, whose business is to pass knowledge on to the next generation. Social justice is about income, employment, pensions or physical assets like housing.”(Connell, 1993) Three points validating the equal importance of social justice and the education system to people of all delineations are: 1.) in Western society public schools are key forums of social interaction and comprise some of the largest social institutions 2.) educational institutions are highly economic bodies and have become “major public assets” (Connell, 1993) 3.) teaching becomes a vehicle by which society is ultimately determined and has a great influence over society’s morality. Connell describes the meaning of justice in education as being “a question of fairness in distribution… equality.”(Connell, 1993) “Justice cannot be achieved by distributing the same… standard good to… all social classes.”(Connell, 1993) By stating this, Connell summarizes that in the attempt to achieve equality, unequal means must be employed.
We all have been tainted from this society so it is up to us to unlearn things that we have been socialized to believe. My commitment to social justice is also apparent through organizing and advocacy. Especially in this political period, political activism is very important. I find that I am able to use the privileges that do hold, as leverage when fighting for basic rights for marginalized communities, specifically communities of color. I also think that is can be common for Loyola students to be stuck in this bubble of Loyola, this isn’t bad, it is more disheartening because Loyola doesn’t necessarily give the necessary tools to be involved in the greater Chicago area.
The Concept of Social Justice Introduction Issues of inequality have been experienced for centuries, and they include oppression, prejudices, and discrimination. The government is responsible for making sure that certain laws are set in place to protect the people from social justice conflicts. But since the government is a representative of the will of the majority, for centuries, there has been a struggle in achieving social justice in our community. When faced with social issues or problems on behalf of the society, society and individuals have the task of ensuring the well-being of others. The Concept of Social Justice
The second Social Justice event I attended this semester was “Dramatic Readings: Oppression Through Our Eyes” on April 28, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. It was presented by a variety of different college students and a social justice professor. The objective, in my opinion, was to enlighten students on different types of oppression. The first speaker was Dani who read Hear Christine Break Her Silence by Emery Vela. She spoke about being in a dark, lonesome place.
This semester, one of my papers is called” Education, resistance and social justice". What is social justice? What is education? What is the relationship between the public education and social justice? The social justice is a world in which the distribution of resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable, and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure, recognized, and treated with respect (Bell, 2016).
Social injustices are a plague upon our society. Many of the social justice problems that we have talked about in the course Diversity and Multicultural Education, I have seen with my own eyes. From blatant racism to hidden bias, prejudices towards minority groups are not a thing of the past and are very much present in today’s society. Members of minority groups often fall victim to slurs from the ignorant. Cultural appropriation is also a major conflict facing the masses, which is caused by minority group members being underrepresented in media and the curriculum.