SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS Chapter 5

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Barriers to Social Justice and Civil Rights  Prejudice  Discrimination  Oppression

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Prejudice  Attitude of judging and/or disliking groups and individuals based on myths and misconceptions

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Discrimination  Actions of treating people differently based on their membership in a group; usually involves denial of something

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Oppression  Systematic and pervasive mistreatment of people based on their membership in a certain group

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Institutional discrimination  Discrimination built into the norms and institutions of society and enforced by those in power

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education RACISM  Belief or doctrine that inherent differences among various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior; policy or system of government based on such a doctrine  Webster’s College Dictionary

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education ETHNOCENTRISM  Belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture  Webster’s College Dictionary

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education SEXISM  Discrimination or prejudice based on a person’s sex, especially discrimination against women  Webster’s College Dictionary

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education HOMOPHOBIA  Unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality  Webster’s College Dictionary

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education CLASSISM  Biased or discriminatory attitude based on distinctions made between social or economic classes  Webster’s College Dictionary

The Constitution: Cornerstone of Civil Rights Bill of Rights – the first ten amendments to the Constitution

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education  The foundation in law for protection of people’s rights is found in the Constitution. The US Constitution was agreed to in 1789, and outlines the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; our electoral process; and the basic civil rights protecting our well-being

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Voting Rights  The right to vote was not clearly spelled out in the Constitution  Decisions regarding voting were left to the states  The Civil War and the abolition movement paved the way for Constitutional amendments outling voting rights  1870 – Fifteenth Amendment provided for the right to vote

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education What about voting rights for women?  Another fifty years passed before the US Constitution was amended to include voting rights for women  1920 – Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education What about voting rights for indigenous people?  Basic rights for indigenous people were nonexistent for hundreds of years  Rights of citizenship were granted in 1924, but states varied in application and enforcement

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education Protection from Discrimination and Oppression  Civil rights legislation can protect people from discrimination and oppression  Examples include: Hate Crimes Legislation Affirmative Action Disabilities rights laws

Reluctance to help those who are different from ourselves makes it challenging to create laws promoting social justice What steps can we take to create laws that promote social justice?