Social Justice: The Role Of Oppression In Society

One key concept to understand when trying to face oppression is that oppression isn’t just one general issue. Oppression comes in many different forms and is a problem on many different levels.  The three different levels oppression can appear in is individual, cultural and institutional. (Robinson, Handout “oppression

A social identity forms when “an individual ties his or her self-concept to a collective or role” (Ashforth, Harrison, & Corley, 2008). A social identity is one that is shared by members and distinguished by groups, and members define themselves and enable others to define them based on the groups to which they belong (Miscenko & Day, 2015). A person’s social identity relates to their sense of self-worth, as “people attach positive value to their identities” (Miscenko & Day, 2015). An individual uses their social identity to affirm their self-concept through their social peers, seeking confirmation by “expressing identity relevant behavior central to role definition” (Miscenko & Day, 2015). Social identities are also used for self-enhancement by confirming both “positive and negative aspects of identity” and “striving to promote only

Through the social work profession, social justice inhibits a motivation to aid and identify with a designated population through a humanitarian perspective. As social workers, we have an incredible desire to collaborate with colleagues with similar vision to discover a solution to the concerns of the client that comprises of the social justice.

When working to determine the causes of oppression, one must first establish a definition of the word. Oppression can be perceived as being a broad, which can lead to disempowerment of the term. For the purposes of this paper, oppression is defined through the lens of both institutional and internalized oppression. Institutional oppression is define as the occurrence of established laws, customs, and practices systematically reflecting and producing inequities based on one’s membership in targeted social identity groups (Cheney, 2012). In regards to institutional oppression, oppressive consequences such as classism, prejudice and discrimination are typically attributed to institutional laws, customs, or practices. Internalized oppression is internalized oppression is the

Oppression consists of an individual or group limiting another’s actions or choices, and exists in many forms, including violence, intimidation, laws, and social exclusion. I believe oppression stems from the belief that a group of individuals – or sole individuals – are better than, or worth more as humans than others. With this presumption the oppressor constrains the oppressed by limiting their rights, intimidating them as to prevent them from acting in a certain way, or ostracizing them in a social setting.

“There are forms of oppression and domination which become invisible - the new normal,” Michel Foucault. This quote by Michel Foucault is the definition of today’s society due to the many incidents that have happened. To start off, oppression is the state of being subject to unjust treatment or control. In recent times, people have been told they were being repressive or ruthless to the minorities. This was the case with slavery, with the Holocaust, and with many other events in the past involving oppression. These events can instill fear in the people to make them realize the past can repeat itself one way or another whether we realize it or not.

Identity is an expression of our self-evaluation. It encompasses factors such as nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, region and language. It is shaped throughout life by experiences and the environment which one lives in. Globally, the social construction of identity varies. The factors chosen as more prominent in one region of the world, may differ from other places that has experienced political tensions, has been influenced by religion or has larger migrant populations. Some researchers fear about one-dimensional identity. There is danger in only considering a specific factor as the sole basis for identity because it can lead to extremism and failure to endure diversity. However, there are factors that are more prominent than

As a social worker it is our duty to look at the community and determine if everyone’s needs are being met if that is not the case then we need to step in and promote change. As Kirst-Ashman & Hull, Jr. stated, “Core value themes in social work include the fundamental right of people to have their basic needs met, to make their own choices, and to maintain their human dignity” (2015). By advocating for those in need, we are promoting social justice and change for oppressed individuals in our community.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg once said “I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is that they must change if they are to get better.” Injustices can be explained as something that is not to everybody’s benefit, or simply something this is unfair. Going into this class, I did not know much about social justice or cities in general. After being in it for a short 3 weeks, I have learned a lot of new material and am excited to learn more. I believe that social justice is a combination of the opportunities and freedoms within the different socioeconomic classes.

A common problem faced by immigrants is social identity. Social identity refers to the need to identify as a member of a group and not merely as an individual. Man is a social being and being able to identify with a group helps in giving a sense of belonging, developing self-esteem and a sense of pride. Social identity and sense of self are therefore important to an individual’s well-being. As a member of a group, every individual performs the role(s) and expectations of that group. However, intersectional identities exist

Eliezer Yudkowsky once said, “You are personally responsible for becoming more ethical than the society you grew up in.” This quote represents the initiative I plan on taking to promote social justice. Though I have yet to make a humongous contribution to the progress of society, I am steadily working towards it. The need for social justice is everywhere due to the acts of injustice that people, primarily minorities, face every day. This includes police brutality, racism, and discrimination. That being said, action must be taken and I will do my part by starting in my own community — Atlanta, GA.

Stets, J. E., & Burke, P. J. (2000). Identity Theory and Social Identity Theory. Social Psychology Quarterly , pp. 224-237. Retrieved from <

Social justice is something that the public strives for so that one day everyone is treated equally. A world where there are opportunities for all no matter what their race, gender, or socioeconomic status may be would be significant. Many Americans have been denied education or housing or have been treated wrongfully, making their income much less than someone else’s. Society is continuing to strive for a lifestyle where no one is discriminated or treated differently because of their race, religion, culture, or distribution of wealth. Respect for other’s differences is needed to help everyone become comfortable with each other. By knowing what social justice is, investigating some current events within the United States and how those events have impacted others, the authors personal impact by social justice movements, and also by looking at how to deal with social justice in the education profession, we can better understand how much social justice has impacted the world and what we should do to change it.

Social Justice is a double edge sword. On one side everyone is treated equally and fairly with sustainable life advantages. There is food, clean water, shelter, health care, education and a living wage adequate to support and improve families’ quality of life. On the other side, there is the reality of economics, war, prejudice, environment, poverty, and political influences. As long as there is corruption and greed these goals seem impossible to achieve.

Social justice is the “fair treatment and respect for others” (Definition on Prompt Paper). Today’s society can agree that is our duty as people to aid a person if they are in direct need of help, but how do we decide which situations deserve our attention? What is the limit as to what fair treatment is? Over the course of many centuries, it has been the goal of humankind to break down the basic morals of our species, and therefore, find the extent of the obligations we have to others as a result. Different sources, ranging from literature (like the Greek myth Pegasus and Bellerophon) to social tests and articles (such as Robert Sapolsky’s “Humans -- for better or worse”) to philosophy (like that discussed in RadioLab’s “Morality”), have contributed to the overwhelming conclusion that we feel (or at least should feel) somewhat responsible for the protection and contentment of our society when we have the ability to influence it. They all relay themes of cooperation and generosity being necessary for a society to survive. While it is impossible to control or predict the outcome of every event, as justice seeking, morally driven humans, we find ourselves responsible for the well-being of others to the extent of which we can affect their well-being because we deeply understand that helping others is the only way our society will survive.