Social Justice: Prejudice And Stereotypes
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Social justice is about:
(a) preventing human rights abuses
(b) obtaining equality for different groups
(c) overcoming the barriers that prevent some people from enjoying a better quality of life
(d) maximising everybody's welfare
(e) ensuring that different groups in the society meet their obligations and responsibilities so that the whole society benefits. Social justice hinges on several ideas that we all share. We believe that everybody is equal and although we are organised in different social groups, eg, based on gender, religion, age, social class, etc, we should all be treated fairly. Each person has rights, eg, the right to life, to freely express oneself, and to worship freely. Social justice involves …show more content…
So, we may hear someone say that black people have no head for business, or that Chinese are all gamblers, or that Indians are misers with their money. Those are stereotypes. Both prejudices and stereotyping arise as a result of our socialisation through the agencies of the family, the peer group, the church, the school and the mass media. We simply accept as true the dominant emotions, feelings, judgements and orientations which our friends and family have for some group. Prejudices and stereotyping are usually caught rather than explicitly taught. There seems to be a common urge to judge others in terms of our own reference points, lifestyles, beliefs and values. 'Discrimination' refers to acts or behaviours that treat others unfairly. If you believe that young black men are lazy and prone to engage in violence, ie, a stereotype, then as an employer you are not likely to hire them and will prefer another age, gender or race group. This would be an act of discrimination as it is an unfair practice that is based on a belief that is not justified. Or, you may hold such a prejudice but hire members of the group because you think it politically prudent to do so. Or, you may have no prejudice but believe that your clients would prefer to deal with others, in which case you do not hire young, black men. This would …show more content…
It reduces the possibility of healthy, mutually respectful relations between the generations. The older generation has much to contribute in homes, workplaces and public life. They have accumulated knowledge, experience and wisdom in their life. Instead, the majority are sidelined, made to retire, and not seen as a resource. The result is that in such a society equity and productivity, as well as sustainability of the development effort is thwarted. Ageist practices entrench unfairness which can then be easily extended to other groups with minority status, eg, women, ethnic groups such as Rastafarians, and the poor. Where there are such entrenched inequities, human development is not advanced. Human development requires that people are put at centre stage for the development effort. Younger members of society are socialised into such prejudices and stereotypes via their friends, family and the media, and accept and participate in discriminatory acts against the aged without thinking about
Social justice is about:
(a) preventing human rights abuses
(b) obtaining equality for different groups
(c) overcoming the barriers that prevent some people from enjoying a better quality of life
(d) maximising everybody's welfare
(e) ensuring that different groups in the society meet their obligations and responsibilities so that the whole society benefits. Social justice hinges on several ideas that we all share. We believe that everybody is equal and although we are organised in different social groups, eg, based on gender, religion, age, social class, etc, we should all be treated fairly. Each person has rights, eg, the right to life, to freely express oneself, and to worship freely. Social justice involves …show more content…
So, we may hear someone say that black people have no head for business, or that Chinese are all gamblers, or that Indians are misers with their money. Those are stereotypes. Both prejudices and stereotyping arise as a result of our socialisation through the agencies of the family, the peer group, the church, the school and the mass media. We simply accept as true the dominant emotions, feelings, judgements and orientations which our friends and family have for some group. Prejudices and stereotyping are usually caught rather than explicitly taught. There seems to be a common urge to judge others in terms of our own reference points, lifestyles, beliefs and values. 'Discrimination' refers to acts or behaviours that treat others unfairly. If you believe that young black men are lazy and prone to engage in violence, ie, a stereotype, then as an employer you are not likely to hire them and will prefer another age, gender or race group. This would be an act of discrimination as it is an unfair practice that is based on a belief that is not justified. Or, you may hold such a prejudice but hire members of the group because you think it politically prudent to do so. Or, you may have no prejudice but believe that your clients would prefer to deal with others, in which case you do not hire young, black men. This would …show more content…
It reduces the possibility of healthy, mutually respectful relations between the generations. The older generation has much to contribute in homes, workplaces and public life. They have accumulated knowledge, experience and wisdom in their life. Instead, the majority are sidelined, made to retire, and not seen as a resource. The result is that in such a society equity and productivity, as well as sustainability of the development effort is thwarted. Ageist practices entrench unfairness which can then be easily extended to other groups with minority status, eg, women, ethnic groups such as Rastafarians, and the poor. Where there are such entrenched inequities, human development is not advanced. Human development requires that people are put at centre stage for the development effort. Younger members of society are socialised into such prejudices and stereotypes via their friends, family and the media, and accept and participate in discriminatory acts against the aged without thinking about