Social Justice Why are issues of diversity, oppression and social justice important to everyone? Do individuals have a responsibility to support social justice?

The problem, unstated til now, is how to live in a damaged body in a world where pain is meant to be gagged uncured ungrieved-over The problem is to connect, without hysteria, the pain of any one’s body with the pain of the body’s world. By Adrienne Rich (1986) This requires flexibility, understanding and awareness of the power dynamics of individuals in their social context.

How might structural impediments effect social justice? For example: Capitalism Colonization Globalization Capitalism: exploits people in experiencing poverty, women providing unpaid labour as caregivers, reinforces values of colonization; governments expand opportunities for businesses by reducing funding to social programs forcing people into exploitive employment. Colonization: exploiting Aboriginals for land; entrenching values and beliefs about work and care roles. Globalization: exploiting developing countries for labour of poor people for out own benefit.

Pro-diversity Approaches Recognize everyone has something to contribute Focus on varied strengths and perspectives Requires critical self-reflection Actively challenge harmful norms

Oppression is systemic, hidden, unintentional and multifaceted. Oppression does not occur “because of the evil intentions of a dominant group. It mostly occurs through the systemic constraints on subordinate groups, which take the form of unquestioned norms, behaviours, and symbols, and in the underlying assumptions of institutional rules”. “Oppression is more effective in achieving its apparent function of maintaining the privileged position of the dominant group when both the victims and perpetrators are unaware of the dynamics of oppression.” (Mullay, 2010, p. 53)

Oppression A system that maintains advantage and disadvantage based on stereotyped social group memberships Operates at a personal, cultural and structural level Oppression results in: Disadvantage for targeted groups Privilege for advantaged groups

Oppression becomes Internalized Privileged groups – internalize superiority privileged groups have the power to define reality and determine what is “normal” often unaware of own privileges Disadvantaged groups - internalize inferiority structural and cultural constraints may impact personal opportunity, sense of possibility, self-development and self-determination feelings of inferiority, shame and self-hate Can you think of an example of internalized oppression? Eg. Woman forester – blaming other women for difficulties encountered in the male-dominated field.

“What determines oppression is when a person is blocked from opportunities to self-development, is excluded from full participation in society, does not have certain rights that the dominant group takes for granted, or is assigned a second-class citizenship, not because of individual talent, merit, or failure, but because of his or her membership in a particular group or category of people.” (Mullay, p. 40)

Social Justice rooted in the belief that oppression is not inevitable full and equal participation of all groups in society is mutually shaped to meet everyone’s needs

Social Justice Includes… equitable distribution of resources physical and psychological safety individuals are self-determining (able to develop their full capacities) and interdependence Individuals have a sense of personal agency and a sense of social responsibility towards other, society and the world

Social justice is a process and belief The process is democratic, participatory and inclusive affirming of human agency and human capacities for working collaboratively to create change The underlying belief is oppression cannot be ended through dominance, oppression and/or coercion “Power with” vs “Power over” (Adams et al., 2007)

Who am I?

On a sheet of paper quickly write down the first several things that come to mind. I am a…

What categories do we use to define ourselves and each other? Write down on chart paper. Then as group identify advantaged and targeted statuses within the identifiers.

Think about how we use these categories to our advantage and disadvantage. Would someone like to give an example?

There is complexity and intersectionality of identity and oppression “Power and privilege are relative…because individuals hold multiple, complex, and cross-cultural social group memberships that confer relative privilege or disadvantage differently in different contexts. Identity is simply not additive but multiplicative.” (Adams et al., 2007, p.1-2) Power is relative. By yourself in the room you are not privileged or oppressed but in relation to each other in our different roles or with our different hats we move in and out of these positions. Can anyone give an example? Eg. As a professional working with clients I hold power in relation to them. As a student in relation to my professor I don’t hold that same privilege.

Intersectionality “Intersectionality is the dynamic interplay of gender, race, sexual orientation, social class, age, disability status, and other diversity markers in an individual's life circumstances. Intersectionality also includes the resources and lack of resources these identity aspects convey upon the individual.” “Mindfulness of intersectionality interrupts the usual pattern of discussing differences in a fragmented manner.” (Almeida et al., 2008, 16) Meaning the impact of a person’s race (for example) cannot be evaluated apart from her or his gender, class, sexual orientation, age, and disability status.

What do you think? “When we think of our multiple identities, most of us will find that we are both privileged and targeted at the same time. But, it is the targeted identities that hold our attention and the dominant identities that often go unexamined.” (Adams et al, 2000, p. 11) Why might it be uncomfortable to explore our dominant/privileged identities?

Exercise Hierarchy of Power, Privilege, and Oppression (Almeida et al., 2008, p. 12) Tape on floor; papers of capitalism, globalization and colonization. How do these impact our positions on the hierarchy?

Becoming an Ally An ally is typically a member of an advantaged social group who uses social power to take a stand against social injustice directed at targeted groups. An ally works to be an agent of social change rather than an agent of oppression.

Characteristics of Allies Feels comfortable and good about own social group membership and identities Takes responsibility for learning about own and targeted groups’ heritage, culture and experience Examines how oppression works in everyday life Actively listens to and respects the perspectives and experiences of targeted group members Acknowledges unearned privileges received as a result of advantaged status and works to eliminate or change privileges into rights that targeted group members also enjoy What do you think are characteristics of an ally????

Is willing to make mistakes, learn from them and try again Recognizes that unlearning oppressive beliefs and actions is a life-long process, not a single event and welcomes each learning opportunity Is willing to make mistakes, learn from them and try again Is willing to be confronted about own behaviour and attitudes and consider change Is committed to taking action against social injustice in own sphere of influence Understands the connections among all forms of social injustice Believes she/he can make a difference by acting and speaking out against social injustice Know how to cultivate support from other allies (Bishop, 2002)