Part of the mission of your independent, nonprofit news organization is advocacy for underrepresented groups in society and changes in government policies to support social justice causes. It is critical for organizations to help advocate for groups in society that have historically been underrepresented.
Your manager at your independent, nonprofit news organization wants you to write an article that advocates for social justice changes by showing the impact of social justice and diversity on different stages of human development.
You should use the social justice movement you selected for your Week 3 assignment.
Write a 700- to 1,050-word article that addresses the following:
Define social justice. Consider what makes up a just society. You may utilize the definition from your Week 3 assignment.
Discuss how you can identify social injustice and what is just and what is unjust or unfair.
For 3 different stages of development using Erik Erikson’s model of social development, summarize common psychological development or changes that occur in each stage.
Assess how social justice and diversity can impact psychological development at each of your 3 chosen stages, including examples of psychological impacts.
Explain the role of advocacy in the social justice movement you selected.
What, then, makes up a just society? A truly just society is one where systemic barriers—those woven into our laws, institutions, and cultural norms—are actively dismantled. It is a society that organizes itself to meet the human needs of all its members, protecting human rights, ensuring universal dignity, and acknowledging that equity, not just equality, is required to level the playing field.
Identifying the Divide: Just vs. Unjust
The ability to identify social injustice is crucial for advocacy. Injustice is often visible in unequal outcomes that are not earned but are rather imposed by systemic forces.
What is Just: Providing equitable access to resources, opportunities for self-determination, and the cultural affirmation of every identity. For instance, creating fully accessible public transport for all citizens.
What is Unjust/Unfair: When outcomes are consistently dictated by identity rather than effort. This includes discrimination in hiring, systemic exclusion from decision-making processes, or deprivation of essential resources (like medical care or education) based on an individual’s race, gender, or disability status. Injustice is the deliberate or negligent creation of suffering through structural means.
Sample Answer
The Developmental Cost of Injustice: Why Social Justice is Essential to Human Flourishing
By: [Your News Organization Name], Advocacy and Policy Desk
Our mission is predicated on a core truth: a just society is a prerequisite for human potential. For historically underrepresented groups, the systems meant to provide support often become the source of lifelong psychological harm. To achieve meaningful social change, we must advocate for policies that recognize and nurture development at every stage of life.
Defining Justice: Beyond Fairness
At its root, social justice is the principle that every individual, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances, deserves equal access to opportunities, resources, and privileges within society. It moves beyond mere procedural fairness and demands equitable outcomes.