What Is Social Justice?
Social Justice
How do you define social justice? It is hard to give a structured definition to social justice. However, it can be stated that social justice is the understanding that everyone, regardless of gender, race, characteristics, and socioeconomic status, is entitled to have the same political, economic, and social rights. In a sense, social justice is equality.
Social Justice Issues
Intersocial treatment focuses on how one group of people within a region treats another group. The said group’s basis for mistreatment or discrimination against the other is due to their belief about the other group. This is where social justice comes into play. In my opinion, social justice issues start with prejudice. For example, around the world there is a wage gap issue. Most women earn less compared to their male counterparts. This issue started with the idea that men are better than women, thus they do more work and deserve bigger salary. This is just one of the social injustice and discrimination issues we are facing today. Here are other human rights and social justice issues that are prevalent around the world:
Racism. Prejudice against someone because of their race, thinking that their race is superior.
Sexism. This is typically against women—stereotyping people based on sex.
Ageism. The discrimination based on a person’s age.
Heterosexism. The prejudice against homosexuals based on the idea that heterosexuality is the only normal orientation.
There are other social injustices happening in our society today, including some government regulations that purposely or otherwise discriminate against a group.
The Holocaust
I am a first-generation Jewish American. Both of my parents are European Jews. My family is lucky to be living in America when World War II happened. We’re basically spared from the Holocaust.
My family and other Jewish families in our neighborhood heard very little about the Holocaust during the war, and my parents said little about the tragedy. In 1945, I sneaked into a film screening, and this was the first time I learned of the evil of the Holocaust. The filmed showed the conditions inside the camps.
The Holocaust happened because Hitler’s Germany believed the Aryan race was the superior race. They also believed that the Jewish race was inferior and was to blame for everything. This prejudice resulted in millions of innocent Jews, including children, massacred.
My Views
Growing up in mostly Jewish community, although my parents were not that religious, shaped my view on justice, ethics, and morality. My life experiences, failures, and success, as well as my study of the Torah, also helped in molding my morality.
Many Jewish people, including myself, have asked why the Almighty hides his face during the Holocaust. Rabbi Gedalia Fleer’s answer is the best I have heard so far. The rabbi lectured that the Almighty has a covenant with Satan to allow “free will” during the creation. Free will allows people to do both good and evil. However, the Almighty also has another covenant, this time with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The covenant is not to allow the Jewish people to disappear. And he has a covenant with Moses that will never allow the Torah to disappear. Because of that covenant, there is resurgence of Jewish practice around the world after the WWII. The study of the Torah also spread worldwide.
Justice
In the Torah and the teachings of rabbis, Jewish people are forbidden to stand idly by while their fellow men are treated unjustly. As the scripture says, “Learn to do good, seek justice, strengthen the victim, do justice for the orphan, and take up the cause of the widow. Go forth, now let us reason together” (Isa 1:17–18).
Do you have any questions about social justice? If you want to know more about social justice, leave a comment below or you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads. Grab a copy of From Brooklyn New York To Brookline Massachusetts now!
References:
Hume, Gemma. 2014. “What is social justice and how can we achieve it?” Practical Action, February 20. Accessed November 02, 2017. https://practicalaction.org/blog/news....
Mullikin, Mary Beth. n.d. “Social Justice Lesson for Kids: Definition, Issues & Examples.” Study.com. Accessed November 02, 2017. http://study.com/academy/lesson/social-justice-lesson-for-kids-definition-issues-examples.html.
Pachamama Alliance. n.d. “Social Justice Issues.” Accessed November 02, 2017. https://www.pachamama.org/social-justice/social-justice-issues
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