Social Justice and Social Work-Exploring what is Justice
This paper is about Social Justice and Social Work-Exploring what is Justice. It comprises of links for watching videos and analyzing them on this topic.
Social Justice and Social Work-Exploring what is Justice
(Please click on the link to watch the video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0CTHVCkm90
[In this video, the narrator describes different approaches to justice that addresses needs or rights or more compassionate or punitive approaches. He notes that despite these differing views, most individuals support an approach to justice that is most consistent with their personal values. Please think about and write about the following:
Firstly, What are your personal views on justice, equality, and fairness?
Secondly, What do you think social work’s views are on justice, equality, and fairness (see NASW Code of Ethics)?
Thirdly, In what ways are your views consistent with NASW?]
(Where Social Justice Meets Oppression)
Firstly, Take a moment and imagine what a social justice world might look like by briefly responding to the following questions:
Secondly, How would people treat each other?
Thirdly, How would institutions, such as education, social services, and the justice system, serve their constituents?
Fourthly, What kinds of policies would we have?
Also, What are one to two strategies we as a society can take to get there?
(The New Possibility)
[Provide a brief reflection on the following quote from Jane Addams, the “Mother of Social Work”:
Firstly, “What after all, has maintained the human race on this old globe. Despite all the calamities of nature and all the tragic failings of mankind, if not faith in new possibilities, and courage to advocate them?”
Racial Oppression
Race or racial oppression is defined as: burdening a specific race with unjust or cruel restraints or impositions. Racial oppression may be social, systematic, institutionalized, or internalized.
(Please watch the following short video to answer the questions)
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eotp16-soc-lewis/wgbh-world-channel-civil-rights-activist-john-lewis-looking-back/#.WpBaKCOZM8Y
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eotp16-soc-sharpton/wgbh-world-channel-al-sharpton-the-road-to-racial-justice/#.WpBafCOZM8Y
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eotp16-soc-blm/wgbh-world-channel-black-lives-matter-campaigning-for-racial-justice/#.WpBYcyOZM8Y
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eotp16-soc-newsome/wgbh-world-channel-todays-civil-rights-activists-bree-newsome/#.WpBZuCOZM8Y
[Using the example of the civil rights movement as shown in the PBS short video series and/or other sources:
Firstly, Give an example for each of the four levels of oppression (personal, internalized, structural, and cultural) that have impacted African Americans in U.S. history.
Secondly, What are one to two strategies that the civil rights movement engaged in to combat oppression at the personal, structural, and/or cultural levels of oppression? In your view, how effective were these strategies?]
Personal, Cultural, and Structural-Level Interventions for Advancing Social Justice
“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. Alternatively, you cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.”
Quote by Cesar Chavez, an American activist and labour organizer who founded the National Farm Workers Association
Firstly, how does this quote relate to the promotion of social justice in your view?Empowerment, and the dismantling of oppression?
Secondly, What are two or three contemporary social problems that stand out to you as a form of injustice that you feel passionate about?
Thirdly, Identify these problems.
Further, Describe the type of justice issues this is (e.g., racial justice, women’s rights, or immigrants’ rights), and conceptualizing these problems.
Lastly, Present evidence that demonstrates the nature of the social problem you have identified.