Social Justice Issues—Social Movements, Policy, Power, and Social Change

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Discrimination and gender inequality

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Discrimination and gender inequality

Social justice refers to the idea that all human beings should be equal and treated with the same responsibilities and rights. The assertion aims to eliminate discrimination and to show that no human being is valuable than others (Barzilay, 2018). The concept has its roots in the nineteenth century, and there have been movements to ensure no discrimination in societies. However, different issues arise and affect people in terms of accessing opportunities, services, and goods. These issues are diverse and wide-ranging, and an example is gender inequality among women.

Description

Each time, across the world, women are affected by inequality and discrimination. They face unequal treatment, abuse at work and the workplace, and violence in the community. In some instances, they are denied opportunities to lead, earn equal salaries as men, or learn (Capeheartn & Milovanovic, 2020). This has led to most of them living in poverty due to scarcity of resources, less influence, and less power. They all tend to face inequalities depending on their ethnicity, age, religious beliefs, class, and any other fundamentalism. The issue has been the key poverty driver and a tool for denying rights to women.

Related historical social justice issue

The social justice issue that led to the birth of gender inequality is discrimination. In ancient times, people were discriminated against based on their race and were treated unequally. After enslaving both men and women especially the African Americans, men were favored while women were used as sex objects (Barzilay, 2018). Also, the idea of taking care of homes while men were busy working for basic needs gave rise, and later the gender inequality issue broadened.

Although a little progress towards ending the issue has been done, there is a long way to go. It would be healthy if national reforms in every country are enacted to ensure the improved status of women in any workplace. Increasing pay to women would be better, and provide them with access to financial institutions.

References

Barzilay, A. R. (2018). Discrimination without Discriminating: Learned Gender Inequality in the Labor Market and Gig Economy. Cornell JL & Pub. Poly, 28, 545. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/cjlpp28&div=23&id=&page=

Capeheart, L., & Milovanovic, D. (2020). Social justice. Rutgers University Press. https://doi.org/10.36019/9781978806894