Social justice

The term Social Justice refers to moves to encourage and achieve equity, in a framework of human rights and recognition of diversity. However there is no real consensus about an actual definition for the term, and it is often put to use without a serious engagement with underpinning philosophies or standpoints. As a social practice, social justice relates to attempts to provide access to quality services such as education and health to all, regardless of their gender, race, religion, social standing, class or social, cultural and language practices. Discrepancies that arise from the advantage and access available to some groups of society and not others, cannot be understood to result only from force – to a situation of what Foucault would discuss as violence. It is as likely that inequities result from the structural and institutional mechanisms of society that are entrenched in the political and public routines of systems. And it is these struggles for equity that equate to seeking a socially just society. This push for parity has often seen social justice advocates positioned in opposition to the established institutions of society – so where one group asks for more, the assumption is that others must somehow have less. However while the foundation of social justice moves is that everyone deserve a fair and equitable portion of what is available, social justice is not just about the shifting of resources toward a more fair distribution. This entry will discuss social justice as a multidimensional concept.