Social Justice and Inequity:

Social Work Response and

Dilemmas
Prof. Joseph J.M. Malelang
That’s unfair!

Life is unfair!
  A framework of POLITICAL OBJECTIVES,
pursued through social, economic,
environmental, and political policies, based
on an acceptance of DIFFERENCE AND
Social DIVERSITY, and informed by VALUES
concerned with: achieving FAIRNESS, and
Justice: EQUALITY of outcomes and treatment;
recognizing the DIGNITY AND EQUAL
WORTH and encouraging the self-esteem of
Definition all; the meeting of basic needs; maximizing
the reduction of INEQUALITIES in wealth,
incomes, and life chances; and the
PARTICIPATION of all, including the most
disadvantaged.
  Social Justice is the UNIFYING TERM
given to the PURSUIT OF EQUALITY
Social AND FAIRNESS in ALL HUMAN
Justice: SITUATIONS and in relation to the use
and distribution of resources. Social
Justice INCORPORATES notions of
Definition preferential options for the poor and
vulnerable and the collectivity of
responsibility and rights.
  Social Justice is defined as the view that
everyone deserves equal economic,
political and social rights and
Social opportunities. Social Workers aim to
Justice: open the doors of access and opportunity
for everyone, particularly those in
greatest need. A brief glance at the
Definition many roles of social workers shows how
this value system underscores everything
they do. (NASW, n.d. p. 2)
Social Justice Issues:
Two Categories
 1. Inter-social treatment
Social
which involves treatment
Justice:
of group(s) of other
people based on
Two
personally-held biases
Categories
and prejudices.
 a) Race
b) Gender
Social
c) Age
Justice: d) Sexual Orientation
e) Religion
Two f) Nationality
Categories g) Education
h) Mental or Physical Ability
 2. Unequal Government
Regulation which involves laws
Social and regulations that
Justice: purposefully or otherwise create
conditions that obstruct, limit,
Two or deny a group(s) access to the
same opportunities and
Categories resources, relative to the rest of
the society
 a) Voting laws (i.e.
redistricting and voters ID)
Social
Justice: b) Policing laws (i.e. traffic,
search and seizure, and
drug scheduling)
Two
c) Environmental laws (i.e.
Categories clean water and air,
industrial waste disposal)
 d) Health Care laws (i.e. insurance
Social mandates and coverage
eligibility)
Justice:
e) Education laws (i.e. public
school segregation and
Two integration)
Categories f) Labor laws (i.e. worker’s rights,
occupational health and safety)
Social Justice and
Social Work:
Code of Ethics
 Social
Justice Value: Social Justice
and Social
Work: Ethical Principle: Social workers
Code of challenge social justice
Ethics
 Social
Justice  “Social workers pursue social
and Social change, particularly with and on
behalf of vulnerable and
Work: oppressed individuals and groups
Code of of people”. (NASW, 2017)
Ethics
 Social
Justice  Social workers’ social change
and Social efforts are focused primarily on
issues of poverty,
Work: unemployment, discrimination,
Code of and other forms of social justice.
Ethics
 Social  “Social workers strive to ensure
Justice access to needed information,
and Social services, and resources; equality
Work: of opportunity; and meaningful
Code of participation in decision-making
for all people”
Ethics
 Social  Social Work Practice at all
Work for
levels strives towards
Social
social justice.
Justice
Social Work  direct service
for Social  community organizing
Justice:  supervision
Social Work  consultation
Practice  administration
  advocacy
Social Work
for Social
 social and political action
Justice:  policy development and
implementation
Social Work  education
Practice
 research and evaluation
  At the micro level --- with
Social Work
individuals, families, and
for Social
groups
Justice:
At the mezzo level ---
organization and communities
At All
At the macro level --- society
Levels and global community
  Human dignity
Social Work  Community and the
for Social common good
Justice:
 Rights and responsibilities
Strives Priority for the poor and
toward vulnerable
Social Justice Participation
  Dignity of work and the
Social Work
for Social
rights of workers
Justice: Solidarity
Stewardship
Strives
toward Governance/ subsidiarity
Social Justice Promotion of Peace
 Social
Work for  How do we respond and
Social realize these principles?
Justice
 Human Dignity
 Social workers respect the
Social inherent dignity and worth of all
Work for individuals
 Social workers act to prevent and
Social eliminate domination of,
Justice exploitation of, and discrimination
against any person or group on
any basis.
 Community and the
Common Good
 Social workers promote the
Social general welfare and
Work for development of individuals,
Social families, and communities.
Justice  Social Workers seeks to
strengthen relationship among
people at all levels to promote
the well-being of all
 Rights and Responsibilities
 Social Workers provide
Social education and advocacy to
Work for protect human rights and end
Social oppression.
Justice  Social Workers empower
individuals/ groups to function as
effectively as possible.
 Priority for the Poor and
Vulnerable
 Social workers advocate for
Social living conditions conducive to
Work for the fulfillment of basic human
Social needs and to promote social,
Justice economic, political, and cultural
values and institutions that are
compatible with the realization
of social justice.
 Priority for the Poor and
Vulnerable
 Social Workers pursue change
Social with and on behalf of vulnerable
Work for and oppressed individuals and
Social groups to: address poverty,
Justice unemployment, discrimination,
and other forms of social injustice;
expand choice and opportunity;
and promote social justice.
 Participation
 Social workers empower
individuals and groups to influence
Social social policies and institutions and
Work for promote social justice.
Social  Social Workers advocate for
Justice change to ensure that all people
have equal access to the resources
and opportunities required to meet
the basic needs and develop fully.
 Dignity of Work and the Rights
of Workers
Social  SWs challenge injustice related
Work for to unemployment, workers’
rights and inhumane labor
Social practices.
Justice  SWs engage in labor unions, to
improve services to clients and
working conditions.
 Solidarity
 SWs understand that
relationships between and
Social among people are important
Work for vehicle for change.
Social  SWs engage people as partners
Justice in the helping process to seek to
strengthen relationships among
people to promote well-being at
all levels.
 Stewardship
 SWs strive to ensure access to
Social needed information, services,
Work for and resources; equality of
opportunity; and meaningful
Social participation for all people.
Justice  SWs promote the general
welfare of people and their
environments.
 Governance/ Principle of
Subsidiarity
 SWs engage in social and
Social political action in order to
Work for promote equality, challenge
Social justice, expand opportunity, and
Justice empower individuals, families
and groups to participate in
governance structures at all
levels.
 Social Promotion of Peace
Work for  SWs promote peace and the
Social general welfare of the society
Justice from local to global levels.
 Three Main
Contributions of Social
Work to Social Justice
 Three Main
1. It is concerned with
Contributions the “social”: to
of Social improving social
Work to relations between
Social Justice
people.
 Three Main
2. It focuses on people
Contributions who lose out because
of Social they need housing or
Work to financial support but
Social Justice
don’t fit the criteria.
 Three Main 3. Social workers have
Contributions always been prepared
of Social
Work to to intervene in social
Social Justice relations.
 Risk to position
Barriers Organization rules/ requirements
to Just Unsure how to move
Busyness of practice
Practice
I can’t change anything
“It is not enough to
be compassionate
YOU MUST ACT!”