CARIBBEAN STUDIES

SOCIAL JUSTICE

The term 'social justice' implies fairness and mutual obligation in society:
that we are responsible for one another, and that we should ensure that
all have equal chances to succeed in life.

The fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law
that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race,
religion, etc., are to be treated equally and without prejudice. See also civil
rights.

Conceptions of social justice are the views people have about why there should
be fairness or equity between the different groups on society. These concepts
are:

1. Natural rights – refers to rights people are entitled to by virtue of being

human, e .g. life and liberty. Natural rights are enshrined in constitutions as a Bill
of Rights. Additional rights considered necessary for all people to enjoy similar
benefits are:

Civil and political right e.g. the right to vote and hold public office

Economic and social rights e.g. fair wages, right to education and health care

Ethnic rights – protection of minorities from unfair practices in employment

and access to education.

2. Welfare – social justice that is based on ideas of welfare focus on the

distribution of resources so that the disadvantaged in society have access to the
necessities of life. Disadvantaged groups include the homeless, elderly, poor,
physical and mentally challenged.

3. Mutual advantage - this concept recognizes that some level of inequality exists
in all societies, so for social justice to prevail everyone must benefit from
opportunities available in society. However, the recipient must earn the benefit
rather than being given it as a right or because of a need. E.g. an unemployed
person on welfare must commit to seeking e job.

Social Injustice - Refers to inequitable access to social and economic

opportunities on the basis of ones age, gender, ethnicity, class or creed.

Discrimination refers to acts or behaviours that treat others unfairly.

Discrimination can be based on:

1. Age. Ageism is an attitude towards mainly older people that treats them as
objects of not much worth. Ageist practices include, exclusion of older people
from social activities, media stereotyping – ‘grumpy old man’, ‘old maid’ etc.

2. Sex. Sexism refers to prejudice against people based on their sex and not on
individual merits or failures. Sexist practices extend to both men and women.
Outcomes of sexism include sexual harassment, domestic violence. Discrimination
against women e.g. denying women equal pay for equal work or restricting access
to higher paying jobs affect entire families.

3. Racism and classism. Racism is the negative or positive value that is placed on a
group of people who belong to a particular race or have a certain skin colour
because they are believed to be superior or inferior.

Classism refers to the negative or positive ways that persons of a particular socio-
economic group are portrayed. Class and racial discrimination find expression in
streaming in schools and employment practices based on ascriptive criteria (race,
colour, social class, physical appearance).

Indicators of development affected by breaches of Social Justice

Social and economic equalization –the degree to which all groups are
experiencing similar levels of income, access to goods and services and other
opportunities. Slave society was unequal because the whites exerted political
power and controlled the wealth while the enslaved had neither. Today, racial
discrimination and prejudice foster inequalities- the growing gap between the rich
and the poor which is underpinned by race and class still persists in most
Caribbean countries, especially in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Productivity

Employment discrimination or sexual abuse affects the development of a country

by reducing female productivity and, among children reduced capacity to learn
and hence take advantage of educational opportunities.

Less pay for women doing the same jobs as men may find women becoming de-
motivated; low paid workers may resort to sabotage, go-slow, etc.

Quality of life.

Ageism forces many older persons to retire, thus robbing society of a store of
accumulated knowledge, experience and wisdom. Exclusion further isolates older
people as they tend to believe stereotypes about themselves (self-fulfilling
prophesy). The failure to provide adequate help, medical care and relief for the
elderly results in increased morbidity and likely earlier mortality.

Groups that experience racial and social class discrimination in the labour market
become an underclass, turning to crime, drugs, etc.

Workers in low paying jobs are unable to improve their standard of living.