Social and Economic Justice

Social and Economic Justice

Justice refers to a set of universal values that assists in guiding an individual to judge what is wrong and right, regardless of the society or culture in which they live. Social justice is, therefore, the manner in which the manifestation of human rights happens in an individuals’ everyday lives at any given level in society (Jackson & Usher, 2019). Clerk argued that that social justice constitutes a concept of a just and fair relationship between the society and individual and can be gauged by how opportunities for personal activities and wealth, as well as social privileges, are distributed among people (Jackson & Usher, 2019). Furthermore, Clerk maintained that social justice encompasses values like equal wealth to every citizen as well as the rights of meeting their basic requirements.

On the other hand, economic justice, which concerns social order as well as an individual person, entails moral principles which assist us in designing a good economic institution (Lombard & Twikirize, 2014). It is these institutions that help in determining how every individual earns a living, exchange services, and goods, gets into contracts as well as generating their independent material foundation for their economic substances (Lombard & Twikirize, 2014). The economic justice plays a very pivotal role in freeing every individual to be engaged in boundless work that goes beyond economics, that of spirit and mind.

Examples of Social and Economic Justice

Social Justice

Social justice examples are prevalent in all types of government policies, movements, and societies. An example of social justice can be witnessed when governments try to conduct various programs of forced distribution of capital, land, as well as other types of assets (Ochoa-Sánchez, 2019). Another example of social justice is when the government tries to discourage ethnicity and tries to minimize certain kinds of biasness that may be directed towards a given demographic group (Lundy & Wormer, 2007). Social justice may also constitute the efforts by the government to ensure equal provision of health care to all its citizens without any form of discrimination.

Furthermore, social justice may be traced back to various historical accounts. For example, social justice was evident in the civil rights movements that were led by Martin Luther King in 1950 (Lundy & Wormer, 2007). The King and his staunch followers were advocating for racial equality to enhance the African Americans’ interests. The movement led to fundamental changes to the society and economy of the United States. The efforts by Martin Luther King lead to the establishment of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibited discrimination against groups that were legally protected (Lundy & Wormer, 2007). The move ensured that every individual in the United States got equal opportunities and right in accessing various services in the government. The move further enhanced a solid social relationship between various communities in the United States hence leading to conducive social justice for all.

Moreover, labor markets offer the best ground for social justice. For example, social justices exhibit in the labor markets, especially while considering equal opportunities and pay for every demographic (Ochoa-Sánchez, 2019). The spread and establishment of the various labor unions is a vivid example of social justice as this they assist in safeguarding workers against exploitation by employees.

Economic Justice

            Just like social justice, numerous examples of economic justices exist. One such example of economic injustices involves the creation of numerous opportunities for every member within a society to earn worthwhile wages while creating sustainable economic growth (Ochoa-Sánchez, 2019). A situation where many citizens can be in a position of providing for themselves as well as maintaining a stable income, they may most likely spend more of their earning on purchasing goods hence creating demand in the economy. The increase in economic demand, therefore, constitutes economic justice.

Moreover, another example of economic justice is government tries to put efforts to terminate gender-driven salary gaps as well as the provision of comprehensive career preparation and education to population segments with low income (Ochoa-Sánchez, 2019). Boosting employees’ wages, especially for the ones who have been earning meager salaries, is a good way of ensuring economic justice.

Social Workers’ Advocacy Responsibility for Promoting Social and Economic Justice

            The social workers have a lot of responsibilities when it comes to promoting and enhancing economic and social justice. The main responsibility of social workers is to enhance the economic and social well-being of other people.

Besides, the social workers’ advocacy has the responsibility of promoting the societies’ general welfare both locally and globally as well as peoples’ development, their environments and communities (Jackson & Usher, 2019). The social workers have the responsibility of advocating for conducive living conditions of the people to the accomplishment of the basic requirements of human beings and need to promotes the political, social, cultural values, economic as well as institutions to assist in the realization of both economic and social justice.

Moreover, it is the responsibility of the social workers to advocate for the expansion of opportunities and choice for every worker with special regards to oppressed, disadvantaged, vulnerable, as well as exploited group and people to help in the full realization of both economic and social justice (Jackson & Usher, 2019).

Furthermore, social workers advocacy has the responsibilities of promoting practices and policies that helps in promoting respect for differences, advocating for institutions and programs that enhance demonstration of cultural competencies, supporting the expansions of cultural resources and knowledge as well as enhancing policies that protect the rights and hence ensuring social and economic justice for everyone (Lundy & Wormer, 2007).

Lastly, the social workers advocacy has the responsibility of preventing and eliminating the discrimination and exploitation of groups, persons or class on the grounds of ethnicity, race, sex, color, nationality, age, political affiliation, religion, marital status as well as physical and mental disability (Lundy & Wormer, 2007).

Activities that Social Workers can take to Promote Social

and Economic Justice

Social workers play a pivotal role in ensuring that people get equal opportunities and right concerning various aspects of life. Besides, there are various activities that social workers can perform to promote economic and social justice.

One of the activities that social workers can undertake to promote economic and social justice includes educating people on their rights (Lundy & Wormer, 2007). Education will enlighten people hence making them have a mastery of their rights, thus protecting them from being subjected to overexploitation by others. Ochoa-Sánchez  (2019), when people know their rights, they gate equal treatments in terms of wages and other rewards regardless of their race, nationality, religion, and ethnicity, hence promoting economic and social justice.

Besides, social workers may undertake activities such as creating movement on social media platforms where discussion of various issues affecting the society can be conducted (Ochoa-Sánchez, 2019).  For example, the discussion may be based on wage gaps, gender, and racial discrimination. Such discussion forums on social media may enlighten the community hence driving sense to the government to address issues discussed on such movements (Ochoa-Sánchez, 2019). This may then consequentially lead to the promotion of social and economic justice.

Conclusion

Social and economic justice is the cornerstone of any successful nation. People will be productive if they are given equal opportunities and fair treatments regardless of their race, ethnicity, religious backgrounds, political affiliation, or color. Further, reducing gender-based wage gaps and boosting wages for those who are marginalized increases the demand for goods and services and hence leading to economic justice. Moreover, it is worth noting that both social and economic justice may not be successful if social workers do not advocate for various changes.

References

Jackson, D., & Usher, K. (2019). Social justice for all: Are we there yet?. International Journal Of Mental Health Nursing, 28(5), 1017-1019. doi: 10.1111/inm.12661

Lombard, A., & Twikirize, J. (2014). Promoting social and economic equality: Social workers’ contribution to social justice and social development in South Africa and Uganda. International Social Work, 57(4), 313-325. doi: 10.1177/0020872814525813

Lundy, C., & Wormer, K. (2007). Social and economic justice, human rights, and peace. International Social Work, 50(6), 727-739. doi: 10.1177/0020872807081899

Ochoa-Sánchez, J. (2019). Economic and social rights and transitional justice: A framework of analysis. Journal Of Human Rights, 18(5), 522-542. doi: 10.1080/14754835.2019.1609349