Social Justice
Introduction
Since time immemorial, social injustice and social justice have been a common phenomenon in different settings across the globe. Therefore, social justice is not a new name. Societies that uphold social justice have given many individuals an opportunity to be free. Such societies have grown and continued to develop over time (Berik, 2009). Societies that believe in social injustice on the other hand are still laid backward. Such societies are not in line with developments witnessed across different parts of the globe.
Additionally, the societies have not contributed to their personal developments while those upholding social justice have unlocked amazing potentials for its members. This has created development opportunities within the society and across the globe. By doing so, the individuals develop themselves and other people in many aspects of life including education, economy, health and technology among others.
Societies also participate differently in social justice. Many societies in the past considered men superior beings compared to women (Loo& Thorpe, 1998). Apparently, this type of social justice was a very common way in which the communities participated in social injustices. Seeing women as inferior people compared to men led to other forms of social injustices against them. For example, this perception led to economic, educational and religious injustices.
Women from a religious point of view were not allowed to undertake any religious sacrifices. The society considered them impure. From an economic point of view, they were not supposed to own money or something with intrinsic value and from an educational context (Berridge et al., 2009), they were not allowed to attend school or acquire any kind of education.
Sadly, in the 21st century, there are societies that still hold on to such views. Current societies unlike in the past are still under pressure from different societies that see such perceptions as a form of pressure from the societies that consider such perceptions a backward.
By doing so, many communities are withdrawing from the practices gradually (Scott, Crompton & Lyonnette, 2010). Gender equality (social injustice) has therefore become an issue of concern across the globe and it has attracted a lot of attention as it is evident in various research studies that have been carried out.
Problem Statement
Even though the world has witnessed many developments, there are still communities that are clinging to past practices. Such societies hold on to customs and cultures that contribute to social injustices against a minority group in the society. Gender inequality in this case is the most dominant social injustice form across many societies. It is still even sad that many societies in the 21st century are still upholding gender inequality among other social injustices and in a disguised manner.
Literature Review
Gender inequality was a very common phenomenon in many societies in the past. The community was very cruel to women and as a result, women did not have any place in the society. It was additionally a trend in many communities across the globe, and the same issue translates to many forms of social injustices. Clearly, the involved societies but easily reverse the trend but considering the perception of women, many societies have been very reluctant when it comes to embracing change.
Social injustices in the past were very apparent for example, women understand that the society had no place for them (Berridge, Penn & Ganjali, 2009). Presently however, many societies are still upholding gender inequality in disguised ways. In the 21st century, many societies still see women as sex tools and this is very clear in many video games, movies and other representation forms (Scott, Crompton & Lyonnette, 2010).
In other societies, there is still the issue of women under representation in the political arena. The gender inequality issues are portrayed by governments, councils in different communities and policy making institutions. Women also hold highly subordinate positions and not managerial or leadership positions. However, in other societies, women have been given leadership positions because of amazing transformations that they have witnessed on gender roles perception.
Even though different societies have witnessed cultural transformations, the most important change is on gender roles (Loo & Thorpe, 1998). Many past studies also reveal that many societies are liberal on matters on gender roles and are embracing nontraditional perceptions. This suggests a lot of modernization that is taking place across the globe. Even so, there are still studies that reveal that women still hold very mediocre positions in the society (Berridge, Penn & Ganjali, 2009).
Women make up the largest number of the discriminated individuals in the society. this is evident in many studies more specifically those carried out on gender roles on specific societies having provided empirical evidence on the level social injustice in that society.
As such, many of the societies have considered seeing women as inferior and others have embraced change and discarded issues of gender inequality. Those that keep seeing women as lesser beings feel that women should stay at home to take care of the kids and to carry out specific domestic activities while men should provide for their families including financial support (Berridge, Penn, & Ganjali, 2009).
Previous studies also suggest that culture plays a very significant role in the growing prejudice against women. As a result, any form of intervention should focus on changing customs and cultures favoring men over women. Additionally, the cultures offer a framework under which the society still thrives.
Therefore, culture and customs often serve as a societal guidance. Even so, in the event where there is success in societal cultures and customs, it is possible to realize massive change (Inglehart, 1990). In modern societies, different changes for example economic growth and enhanced economic development led to a reduction in personal autonomy.
On the other and, this is augmented existential security. Socioeconomic development in the same context led to increased level of education thus offering access to a wide range of information (Inglehart, 1990). Learning and access of information additionally plays a crucial role in enhancing cognitive abilities. In this relevance, it reduces cognitive and data demerits.
As a result of the above, people in the society experience a lot of human choice and enhance independence of personal intelligence. Education will therefore play a significant role in reducing gender inequality (social injustice) in the society (Rao & Keller, 2005). What’s more, independent societies often suggest that they run personal business or undergo democratic regimes with the capacity to embrace the issue of gender inequality with an effort to help maintain social injustice.
The society therefore has a great role to play in upholding social justice and in contributing to injustices. They must clearly come out and disregard laws that favor men over women, by doing so; they will have addressed the issue of gender equality and promoted social justice (Dlamini, 1995).
Society’s Effort to Eradicate Social Injustices
Many social injustices forms exist based on previous studies. Even so, gender inequality is one of the most significant forms of social injustice that is common in many societies across the globe (Dlamini, 1995). Additionally, in one or many ways, the societies contribute to the injustices (Inglehart, 1990).
Gender inequality is the main source of other injustices (Rao & Kelleher, 2005). Therefore, any effort to eliminate the injustices should begin with enhancing gender equality. Even though social injustice was a thing of the past, it is imperative to acknowledge that the practice is still prevalent in many 21st century societies. This is also very clear in many forms even though it has been in disguise but social injustice will still stand out.
Women for example are given subordinate tasks in movies and their description in many cases is that of cowardice or something that cannot compared to men (Berridge, Penn & Ganjali, 2009). The society should additionally consider men and women as equals. By doing so, the society will learn to accept women leader and see them as in a position to upgrade the society.
Giving equal chances to males and females in leadership or education in the society will help in eliminating social injustice. This will additionally unlock women’s potential (Rao & Kelleher, 2005), more specifically those that see the society as one and is more than ready to accommodate them. Additionally, the societies will get rid of cultures that promote social injustices as this will work pretty well in their efforts to eliminate social injustices.
Conclusion
Social justice is considered a form of freedom and social injustice, slavery. This is based on the fact that the latter does not allow the minority of group of individuals in the society to feel that sense of belonging in the society. The former on the other hand, enables a person in the society to have a sense of belonging.
For many years, social injustice has been in existence and it remains rooted deeply in the customs and cultures of a given community. Gender inequality being a form of social injustice stands out as the source of many other injustices in the community. Therefore, any efforts to get rid of the injustices should focus on advocating for gender equality.
Previous studies also confirm that in the 21st century, social injustice is very prevalent. Even though social injustice is in disguise in modern societies, it is still evident. In movies for example, representation of women as sex tools or cowards is also a social injustice form. This is same to the past depiction of females as individuals who carry out subordinate roles.
For example, they were not to carry out any undertaking of religious activities or even own money. Their duties included staying home with the kids, cooking and many other related chores. Even so, many societies that have seen women as equal to men have enjoyed amazing growth. This is because; women can positively contribute to societal growth.
References
Berik, G. (2009). Social Justice and Gender Equality: Rethinking Development Strategies and
Macroeconomic Policies. New York: Routledge.
Berridge, D., Penn, R., & Ganjali, M. (2009). Changing attitudes to gender roles: A longitudinal
analysis of ordinal response data from the British household panel study. International sociology, 24(3), 346-367.
Dlamini, M. P. (1995). Inequality and underdevelopment: Issues for a social development
curriculum. Journal of social development in South Africa, 10(2), 23-33.
Inglehart, R. (1990). Culture shift in advanced industrial society. Princeton: Princeton University
Press.
Loo, R., & Thorpe, K. (1998): Attitudes toward Women’s Roles in Society: A Replication After
20 Years. Sex Roles, 39 (11), 903–912.
Rao, A., & Kelleher, S. (2005). Is there life after gender mainstreaming? Gender and
Development, 13(2), 57-69.
Scott, J. L., Crompton, R., and Lyonette, C. (2010). Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century:
New Barriers and Continuing Constraints. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.