What Is Social Justice?

What Is Social Justice?

Let me explain what social justice means to you directly: it's about a fair and equitable division of resources, opportunities, and privileges in society. This concept started as a religious idea but has broadened to mean the just organization of social institutions that provide access to economic benefits. You might hear it called 'distributive justice' sometimes.

As a broad term, social justice varies in how advocates apply it, but it often highlights social determinants like the racial wealth gap or unequal access to health care. Some related ideas, such as critical race theory, have sparked major debates in American politics.

Understanding Social Justice

The phrase 'social justice' comes from Christian theology, first noted in the early 1840s in Luigi Taparelli's 'Theoretical Treatise on Natural Law.' Taparelli, an Italian Jesuit priest, wrote during Italy's Risorgimento and unification debates. His view applied justice to social affairs based on morality from natural theology and religion, and for much of history, social justice remained a religious concept.

Not all ideas of social justice rely on religion, though. The Industrial Revolution expanded its social impact, and later thinkers saw it as a moral duty for people to work for the common good. The term has grown more popular since the late 20th century, possibly due to neoliberal policies under leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

Though attributed to Taparelli, social justice builds on older ideas from Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas, who drew from Aristotle. One key exploration comes from John Rawls in his 1971 book 'A Theory of Justice,' where he presents 'justice as fairness.' Rawls suggests considering rules for fair distribution of social goods and acceptable inequality levels, using the 'veil of ignorance' to imagine arranging society without knowing your position, and the 'difference principle' allowing inequalities if they benefit everyone.

Fairness is essential, especially in accessing social resources or 'social goods,' which deeply affect outcomes. Social determinants are key to judging if a system is just. For instance, in public health, birthplace can influence health care access and lifespan, so advocates work to ensure health equity despite historical or economic barriers.

Main Principles of Social Justice

While there's no single definition, most social justice approaches aim for inclusion and fairness through ethical principles. These include access, meaning society's resources should be equally available to all, like education, health care, and jobs, with public servants ensuring this.

Equity means providing the same success opportunities despite past injustices, often by directing resources to underprivileged groups. Diversity requires leaders to represent their communities, including women and people of color in power, and policies like anti-discrimination measures or multilingual resources.

Participation ensures everyone has a voice in decisions, so policymakers should consult minority advocates to avoid excluding groups. Human rights, the core principle, cover political freedoms, protection from abuse, and bodily autonomy.

Careers in Social Justice

Common careers involve public administration and social work, dealing with access to resources, where professionals must address biases. You can also pursue social justice in law by representing underserved clients or lobbying for change, or in fields like mental health, victim advocacy, and community development.

Areas of Focus

Social justice targets groups facing historical oppression. Racial equality addresses discrimination and unequal access to education or health. Gender equality tackles wage gaps, violence, and threats to reproductive rights, intersecting with other inequalities. LGBTQ+ equality fights violence, discrimination, and barriers to health care or jobs.

Equity vs. Equality

Equality gives everyone the same opportunities regardless of history, while equity provides resources for equal outcomes, accounting for imbalances. Critics target this equity focus, but supporters see it as vital for justice, as in health equity ensuring no one is denied health due to disadvantage.

Social Justice in Law

In law, social justice fuels culture wars, especially critical race theory (CRT), which examines how racial prejudices shape outcomes, developed by theorists like Kimberlé Crenshaw. CRT views race as socially constructed and law as upholding injustice.

Critics say CRT permits discrimination and accuses White people of racism, per the Brookings Institute. States have legislated against teaching CRT in schools, with 36 banning racial bias education and 17 expanding it. Trump banned diversity training in 2020 and 2025, reversed by Biden in 2021.

What Does Social Justice Mean?

Social justice is the belief that societal benefits and privileges should be divided fairly.

Why Is Social Justice Important?

It's important because it protects against deprivations from unfair prejudices and ensures essentials for a good life.

How Is Social Justice Related to Equity?

Equity focuses on outcomes, addressing how social determinants affect lives and providing fairness for disadvantaged groups.

The Bottom Line

Social justice is a movement for better resource and opportunity division. By tackling historical injustices and supporting underserved communities, it aims for a fairer society.