"Social justice is justice in relation to a fair balance in the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society where individuals's rights are recognized and protected."
The ideas and practices that create a fair and equal society for all people.
Racism (systemic, institutional, individual): The unequal distribution of power, resources, and opportunities based on race. It can be perpetuated in societies through implicit bias, structural inequalities, and institutional policies and practices.
Sexism and misogyny: Discrimination and prejudice against people based on their gender or sex. It can involve the belief in the superiority of one sex over another, and the devaluation of women's contributions, abilities, and experiences.
LGBTQ+ rights: The fight for equality, dignity, and respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. It includes issues such as marriage equality, workplace discrimination, and access to healthcare.
Classism and economic inequality: A system in which people are ranked based on their economic status or class. It can lead to unequal opportunities, lack of access to basic needs, and institutional policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of the poor.
Ableism: Discrimination against people with disabilities. It can take the form of physical barriers, negative attitudes, and exclusion from social and economic opportunities.
Environmental justice: The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Immigrant and refugee rights: The protection of the rights and dignity of immigrants and refugees, including access to education, healthcare, and legal protections. It also includes the fight against xenophobia, discrimination, and unfair deportation policies.
Indigenous rights: The recognition and protection of the rights and sovereignty of indigenous peoples, including the right to self-determination, cultural preservation, and access to land and natural resources.
Criminal justice reform: Efforts to create a fair and equitable criminal justice system, including reducing the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, reforming mandatory minimum sentencing laws, and improving conditions in prisons and jails.
Intersectionality: The interconnected nature of multiple social identities and experiences, such as race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability. It recognizes that discrimination and disadvantage are often compounded and must be addressed holistically.
"The concept of social justice has often referred to the process of ensuring that individuals fulfill their societal roles and receive their due from society."
"The emphasis has been on the breaking of barriers for social mobility, the creation of safety nets, and economic justice."
"Social justice assigns rights and duties in the institutions of society, which enables people to receive the basic benefits and burdens of cooperation."
"The relevant institutions often include taxation, social insurance, public health, public school, public services, labor law and regulation of markets, to ensure distribution of wealth, and equal opportunity."
"Interpretations that relate justice to a reciprocal relationship to society are mediated by differences in cultural traditions, some of which emphasize the individual responsibility toward society and others the equilibrium between access to power and its responsible use."
"Reinterpreting historical figures such as Bartolomé de las Casas."
"Gender, ethnic, and social equality, advocating justice for migrants, prisoners, the environment, and the physically and developmentally disabled."
"Classical and Christian philosophical sources, from Plato and Aristotle to Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas."
"The term social justice finds its earliest uses in the late 18th century, albeit with unclear theoretical or practical meanings."
"The term was popularized generically through the writings of Antonio Rosmini-Serbati."
"Progressive Era American legal scholars, particularly Louis Brandeis and Roscoe Pound."
"From the early 20th century it was also embedded in international law and institutions."
"John Rawls in A Theory of Justice (1971)."
"The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action treats social justice as a purpose of human rights education."
"The use of the term was early on subject to accusations of redundancy and of rhetorical flourish."
"Luigi Taparelli coined and defined the term in a natural law social scientific treatise, establishing the natural law principle."
"Social justice is invoked today in efforts for gender, ethnic, and social equality, advocating justice for migrants, prisoners, the environment, and the physically and developmentally disabled."
"Social justice was made central to the philosophy of the social contract."
"Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice."