social justice

(noun)

Social justice is justice exercised within a society, particularly as it is exercised by and among the various social classes of that society. A socially just society is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, understands and values human rights, and recognizes the dignity of every human being.

Related Terms

  • muckraker
  • Social Gospel
  • Lord's Prayer

Examples of social justice in the following topics:

  • Trends in Organizational Diversity

    • Diversity within the workplace is a broad topic, incorporating both the need for social justice and the high potential value of employing a workforce diverse enough to compete in an increasingly global economic environment.
    • As a result of this criticism, the equal-opportunity movement evolved towards a model based more on social justice.
    • The social-justice trend also meant a shift from a more limited viewpoint of what constituted a "minority" towards a more comprehensive one that places age, physical ability, and sexual orientation alongside traditional categories of race and gender.
    • The social justice model of diversity is distinct from the older affirmative action in that it focuses less on employing minorities and more on the value of a diverse workforce.
    • The natural value achieved through varying perspectives in the workplace complements social justice well.
  • Evaluating Global Theories of Inequality

    • Occupy Wall Street protesters approach inequality from a social justice perspective that holds that all Americans deserve equal life chances and have been denied them by market-oriented approaches to economic regulation (or lack thereof).
    • Occupy Wall Street protesters approach inequality from a social justice perspective that holds that all Americans deserve equal life chances and have been denied them by market-oriented approaches to economic regulation (or lack thereof).
    • Those who evaluate global inequality and consider it to violate human rights may advocate for solutions to inequality using the language of social justice.
    • Social justice advocates generally argue that inequality is unfair, as it leaves some individuals with greater life chances and higher standards of living than others, regardless of individual worth or merit.
    • Differentiate between the positions on social inequality taken by functionalists, Marxists, modern liberalism, and social justice advocates
  • Social Justice

    • Progressive reformers tried to achieve social justice by targeting poverty and all forms of social and political corruption.
    • The Progressive Era witnessed an increasing interest in social reforms.
    • For example, Jane Addams of Chicago's Hull House typified the leadership of residential, community centers operated by professionalized social workers and volunteers and located in inner city slums.
    • Leading intellectuals also shaped the political and social progressive mentality.
    • In sum, the "Progressive Era" is a broadly construed term that refers to a myriad of social, cultural, and political reform movements advocated by otherwise disparate interest groups and political parties that were reacting to the modernizing, industrializing economic and social situation that arose by the turn of the century.
  • Social Regulation

    • The Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy at Harvard University describes it as "public policy and practice in the areas of health care, human services, criminal justice, inequality, education, and labor. "
    • The Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy at Harvard University describes it as "public policy and practice in the areas of health care, human services, criminal justice, inequality, education, and labor. "
    • Social policy aims to improve human welfare and to meet human needs for education, health, housing and social security.
    • Important areas of social policy are the welfare state, social security, unemployment insurance, environmental policy, pensions, health care, social housing, social care, child protection, social exclusion, education policy, crime, and criminal justice.
    • The term 'social policy' can also refer to policies which govern human behavior.
  • The Benefits of Socialism

    • Socialism has a number of theoretical benefits, based on the idea of social equality and justice.
    • On the spending side, a set of social policies typically provides free access to public services such as education, health care and child care.
    • Social security schemes in which workers contribute to a mandatory public insurance program.
    • In theory, based on public benefits, socialism has the greatest goal of common wealth;
    • Socialism reduces disparity in wealth, not only in different areas, but also in all societal ranks and classes.
  • Crime and Criminal Justice

    • Police department reforms are an example of legislative attempts to regulate or improve criminal justice.
    • Criminal justice is the system of practices and government institutions directed at upholding social control, deterring, and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts.
    • The courts serve as the venue where disputes are settled and justice is administered.
    • Correctional authorities may include prison wardens or social workers, depending on the type of offense.
    • Police officers are the most visible members of the law enforcement branch of the criminal justice system, and are charged with maintaining social order by arresting offenders who violate the law.
  • The Transfer of Authority

    • In other nations, many of which have experienced undemocratic governments and dictators, transitional justice refers to a state's efforts to address past human rights violations.
    • As a project, transitional justice has a number of goals, including rebuilding social trust, repairing a fractured judicial system, and building a democratic system of governance.
    • In the context of transitional justice, memorialization is used to honor the victims of human rights abuses.
  • Two Judicial Revolutions: The Rehnquist Court and the Roberts Court

    • The Rehnquist Court favored federalism and social liberalism, while the Roberts Court was considered more conservative.
    • William Rehnquist served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States, and later as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States.
    • He won over his fellow justices with his easygoing, humorous and unpretentious personality.
    • Rehnquist presided as Chief Justice for nearly 19 years, making him the fourth-longest-serving Chief Justice after John Marshall, Roger Taney and Melville Fuller.
    • He is the eighth longest-serving justice in Supreme Court history.
  • Class, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System

    • Class structure within the criminal justice system helps determine the types of crimes individuals will commit.
    • Of the classical founders of social science, conflict theory is most commonly associated with Karl Marx.
    • Indeed, white-collar crimes are typically committed by individuals in higher social classes.
    • Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts.
    • Within the criminal justice system, there are three basic elements that constitute it: the police, the courts, and punishment.
  • Battles in the Courts and Congress

    • In 1981, President Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor to fill the Supreme Court Justice vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Potter Stewart, as he had promised during his 1980 presidential campaign.
    • In 1986, during his second term, the President Reagan elevated Justice William Rehnquist to succeed outgoing Chief Justice Warren Burger and named Antonin Scalia to occupy the seat left by Rehnquist.
    • In 1987, when Associate Justice Louis Powell retired, Reagan nominated conservative jurist Robert Bork to the high court.
    • These included Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps, and federal education programs.
    • Though Reagan protected entitlement programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, in one of the most widely criticized actions of his administration, Reagan attempted to purge tens of thousands of people with disabilities from the Social Security disability roles, alleging they were not "truly disabled."
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