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Essay on Social Justice

Students are often asked to write an essay on Social Justice in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Social Justice

Understanding social justice.

Social justice is the fair treatment of all people in society. It’s about making sure everyone has equal opportunities, irrespective of their background or status.

Importance of Social Justice

Social justice is important because it promotes equality. It helps to reduce disparities in wealth, access to resources, and social privileges.

Role of Individuals

Every person can contribute to social justice. By treating others fairly, respecting diversity, and standing against discrimination, we can promote social justice.

In conclusion, social justice is vital for a balanced society. It ensures everyone has a fair chance to succeed in life.

250 Words Essay on Social Justice

Social justice, a multifaceted concept, is the fair distribution of opportunities, privileges, and resources within a society. It encompasses dimensions like economic parity, gender equality, environmental justice, and human rights. The core of social justice is the belief that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social opportunities irrespective of race, gender, or religion.

The Importance of Social Justice

Social justice is pivotal in fostering a harmonious society. It ensures that everyone has access to the basic necessities of life and can exercise their rights without discrimination. It is the cornerstone of peace and stability in any society. Without social justice, the divide between different socio-economic classes widens, leading to social unrest.

Challenges to Social Justice

Despite its importance, achieving social justice is fraught with challenges. Systemic issues like discrimination, poverty, and lack of access to quality education and healthcare are significant roadblocks. These challenges are deeply ingrained in societal structures and require collective efforts to overcome.

The Role of Individuals in Promoting Social Justice

Every individual plays a crucial role in promoting social justice. Through conscious efforts like advocating for equal rights, supporting policies that promote equality, and standing against discrimination, individuals can contribute to building a just society.

In conclusion, social justice is a fundamental principle for peaceful coexistence within societies. Despite the challenges, each individual’s conscious effort can contribute significantly to achieving this noble goal. The journey towards social justice is long and arduous, but it is a path worth treading for the betterment of humanity.

500 Words Essay on Social Justice

Introduction to social justice, origins and evolution of social justice.

The concept of social justice emerged during the Industrial Revolution and subsequent civil revolutions as a counter to the vast disparities in wealth and social capital. It was a call for societal and structural changes, aiming to minimize socio-economic differences. The term was first used by Jesuit priest Luigi Taparelli in the mid-19th century, influenced by the teachings of Thomas Aquinas. Since then, the concept has evolved and expanded, encompassing issues like environmental justice, health equity, and human rights.

The Pillars of Social Justice

Social justice rests on four essential pillars: human rights, access, participation, and equity. Human rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled. Access involves equal opportunities in terms of resources, rights, goods, and services. Participation emphasizes the importance of all individuals contributing to and benefiting from economic, social, political, and cultural life. Equity ensures the fair distribution of resources and opportunities.

Social Justice in Today’s World

Despite the progress, numerous challenges to social justice persist. Systemic and structural discrimination, political disenfranchisement, economic inequality, and social stratification are just a few. Moreover, the rise of populism and nationalism worldwide has further complicated the fight for social justice, as these ideologies often thrive on division and inequality.

Promoting social justice requires collective action. Individuals can contribute by becoming more aware of the injustices around them, advocating for policies that promote equity, and standing up against discrimination. Education plays a crucial role in this process, as it can foster a deeper understanding of social justice issues and equip individuals with the tools to effect change.

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college essays about social justice

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college essays about social justice

  • October 17, 2021
  • Distinctive College Consulting
  • 1,665 views

By Nora Lessersohn, A.M.

In the past few years, social, political, environmental, financial, and medical crises have made it abundantly clear that one’s race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or disability status directly affect/s their health, finances, work, education, and ability to live life itself. In response, colleges have started to ask their applicants to reflect on how they themselves have contributed to creating equitable and just outcomes for all. The following three prompts are exemplary:

Villanova : St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities?

Princeton : Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.

University of Richmond : Please share one idea for actions or policies that you think would begin to address an issue of racial or social injustice.

Such prompts may feel difficult for students who don’t consider themselves “political” (or those who simply understand how massive these problems are). But working towards equity and justice doesn’t begin and end with a protest or a social media post. In fact, you’ve probably worked towards these goals without even realizing it! Here are three questions to ask yourself to help you write a social justice essay.

1) How and when have I tried to be inclusive of others? Inclusion is an important element of working towards equitable social outcomes, whether it happens at a policy level, or at school with your peers. Have you made an effort to incorporate people from different backgrounds into an activity or conversation, whether in a sport, a club, or a social setting? This act could form the basis of a solid social justice essay in which you talk about the value of inclusion to your community.

2) How and when have I tried to help others? While not all assistance relates to issues of equity and justice, thinking about the times you have worked to help people will help you reflect on how your actions may have contributed to these goals. Have you worked as a tutor or mentor? Have you volunteered at a hospital? Have you organized a food drive? While you may not have thought about the macro effects of your service at the time, thinking now through the lens of equity and justice, how do you understand the work that you did? Is there something you could have done better (and will do in the future)?

3) How and when have I tried to ask difficult questions? For many, the first step in working for equity and justice is developing the awareness that there is systemic and racial inequality everywhere we look. When have you been most aware of these issues in society, and what questions did this awareness prompt you to ask? Who did you ask, or did you keep those questions to yourself (and why)? Reflecting on your own process of understanding could be a powerful way to engage with the topic of social justice, and a jumping off point for discussing how you would work towards a more equitable social world in college and beyond.

Hopefully, asking yourself these questions will help you realize that, even if you’ve never protested, posted, or even just “talked politics,” you may still have made an important effort to make the world a better place to live. 

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Human Rights Careers

8 Tips For Writing A Social Justice Essay

Social justice covers a variety of issues involving race, gender, age, sexual orientation, income equality and much more. How do you write an essay on a social justice issue that’s engaging, informative and memorable? Here are eight tips you should take to heart when writing:

When writing a social justice essay, you should brainstorm for ideas, sharpen your focus, identify your purpose, find a story, use a variety of sources, define your terms, provide specific evidence and acknowledge opposing views.

#1. Brainstorm creatively

Before you start writing your social justice essay, you need a topic. Don’t hesitate to look far and wide for inspiration. Read other social justice essays, look at recent news stories, watch movies and talk to people who are also interested in social justice. At this stage, don’t worry about the “trendiness” of your idea or whether a lot of people are already writing about it. Your topic will evolve in response to your research and the arguments you develop. At the brainstorming stage, you’re focused on generating as many ideas as possible, thinking outside the box and identifying what interests you the most. Take a free online course to get a better understanding of social justice.

You can take a creative brainstorming approach! A blog on Hubspot offers 15 creative ideas such as storyboarding, which involves laying out ideas in a narrative form with terms, images and other elements. You can also try freewriting, which is when you choose something you’re interested in. Next, write down everything you already know, what you need to know but don’t already, why the topic matters and anything else that comes to mind. Freewriting is a good exercise because it helps you decide if there’s any substance to a topic or if it’s clear there’s not enough material for a full essay.

#2. Sharpen your topic’s focus

The best essays narrow on a specific social justice topic and sharpen its focus, so it says something meaningful and interesting. This is often challenging, but wrestling with what exactly you want your essay to say is worth the effort. Why? An essay with a narrow, sharp focus has a clearer message. You’re also able to dig deeper into your topic and provide better analysis. If your topic is too broad, you’re forced to skim the surface, which produces a less interesting essay.

How do you sharpen your essay’s focus? Grace Fleming provides several tips on ThoughtCatalog . First, you can tell your topic is too broad if it can be summarized in just 1-2 words. As an example, “health inequity” is way too broad. Fleming suggests applying the questions, “Who, what, where, when, why and how,” to your topic to narrow it down. So, instead of just “health inequity,” you might end up with something like “The impact of health inequity in maternal healthcare systems on Indigenous women.” Your topic’s focus may shift or narrow even further depending on the research you find.

Writing a human rights topic research paper? Here are five of the most useful tips .

#3. Identify your purpose

As you unearth your topic and narrow its focus, it’s important to think about what you want your essay to accomplish. If you’re only thinking about your essay as an assignment, you’ll most likely end up with a product that’s unfocused or unclear. Vague sentiments like “Everyone is writing about social justice” and “Social justice is important” are also not going to produce an essay with a clear purpose. Why are you writing this essay? Are you wanting to raise awareness of a topic that’s been historically ignored? Or do you want to inspire people to take action and change something by giving them concrete how-to strategies? Identifying your purpose as soon as possible directs your research, your essay structure and how you style your writing.

If you’re not sure how to find your purpose, think about who you’re writing for. An essay written for a university class has a different audience than an essay written for a social justice organization’s social media page. If there are specific instructions for your essay (professors often have requirements they’re looking for), always follow them closely. Once you’ve identified your purpose, keep it at the front of your mind. You’ll produce an essay that’s clear, focused and effective.

#4. Find a human story

The best social justice essays don’t only provide compelling arguments and accurate statistics; they show your topic’s real-world impact. Harvard’s Kennedy School’s communications program describes this process as “finding a character.” It’s especially useful when you’re writing something persuasive. Whatever your topic, try to find the human stories behind the ideas and the data. How you do that depends on the nature of your essay. As an example, if you’re writing something more academic, focusing too much on the emotional side of a story may not be appropriate. However, if you’re writing an essay for an NGO’s fundraising campaign, focusing on a few people’s stories helps your reader connect to the topic more deeply.

How do you choose what stories to feature? Harvard suggests choosing someone you have access to either through your research or as an interview subject. If you get the opportunity to interview people, make sure you ask interesting questions that dig beneath the surface. Your subject has a unique perspective; you want to find the information and stories only they can provide.

#5. Rely on a variety of sources

Depending on your essay’s purpose and audience, there might be certain sources you’re required to use. In a piece for Inside Higher Ed, Stephanie Y. Evans describes how her students must use at least 10 source types in their final paper assignment. Most of the time, you’ll have a lot of freedom when it comes to research and choosing your sources. For best results, you want to use a wide variety. There are a few reasons why. The first is that a variety of sources gives you more material for your essay. You’ll access different perspectives you wouldn’t have found if you stuck to just a few books or papers. Reading more sources also helps you ensure your information is accurate; you’re fact-checking sources against one another. Expanding your research helps you address bias, as well. If you rely only on sources that reflect your existing views, your essay will be much less interesting.

While we’re talking about sources, let’s touch on citations. If you’re writing an essay for school, your teacher will most likely tell you what citation method they want you to use. There are several depending on the discipline. As an example, in the United States, social science disciplines like sociology and education tend to use the American Psychological Association (APA) style. Some places are very rigid about citation styles, while others are more relaxed. If you’re writing an essay where your citation won’t be checked, you still need to give credit to any ideas, thoughts, or research that’s not yours. Proper citation builds trust with your reader and boosts your credibility.

Here are more tips on writing a human rights essay!

#6. Define your key terms

To make your essay as clear and effective as possible, you want every reader on the same page right at the beginning. Defining your key terms is an important step. As Ian Johnston writes, creating an effective argument requires “the establishment of clear, precise, and effective definitions for key terms in the arguments.” You may have to adapt an existing definition or write your own. Johnston offers principles such as adjusting a definition based on the knowledge of who you’re writing for, focusing on what a term is and not just on its effects, and expanding a definition so it covers everything a reader needs to know.

How do you decide which terms are important in your essay? First, never assume a reader understands a term because it’s “obvious.” The most obvious terms are often the ones that need the clearest definitions. If your reader doesn’t know exactly what you’re talking about when you use a term like “health equity,” your essay won’t be as effective. In general, you want to define any terms relevant to your topic, terms that are used frequently and terms with distinct meanings in the context of your essay.

#7. Provide specific evidence and examples

Social justice issues are grounded in reality, so an essay should reflect that. Don’t spend your whole paper being philosophical or hypothetical. As an example, let’s say you’re writing an essay about desertification in Mali. Don’t discuss desertification as an abstract concept. Include real statistics and case studies on desertification in Mali, who it’s affecting the most and what is being done about it. For every argument you make, present supporting evidence and examples.

The strength of your evidence determines the strength of your arguments. How do you find strong evidence? Cite This For Me lists a handful of examples , such as studies, statistics, quotes from subject matter experts and/or reports, and case studies. Good evidence also needs to be accurate and in support of your argument. Depending on your essay topic, how current a piece of evidence is also matters. If you’re not relying on the most current evidence available, it can weaken your overall argument. Evidence should also be as specific as possible to your topic. Referring back to our desertification in Mali essay, that means locating examples of how desertification affects people in Mali , not in Chad or Russia.

Academic essay writing requires specific skills. Here’s an online introductory course on academic writing .

#8. Acknowledge your critics

Not every social justice essay requires an acknowledgment of opposing viewpoints, but addressing critics can strengthen your essay. How? It lets you confront your critics head-on and refute their arguments. It also shows you’ve researched your topic from every angle and you’re willing to be open-minded. Some people worry that introducing counterarguments will weaken the essay, but when you do the work to truly dissect your critic’s views and reaffirm your own, it makes your essay stronger.

The University of Pittsburgh offers a four-step strategy for refuting an argument. First, you need to identify the claim you’re responding to. This is often the trickiest part. Some writers misrepresent the claims of their critics to make them easier to refute, but that’s an intellectually dishonest method. Do your best to understand what exactly the opposing argument is claiming. Next, make your claim. You might need to provide specific evidence, which you may or may not have already included in your essay. Depending on the claim, your own thoughts may be a strong enough argument. Lastly, summarize what your claim implies about your critics, so your reader is left with a clear understanding of why your argument is the stronger one.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

Social Justice and Human Rights Essay

  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment

In the modern world, more and more attention is paid to social justice issues. Public justice is the fundamental principle of a peaceful and prosperous life in the country and between states. The principles of social equity are aimed at removing the barriers that arise in front of people due to various factors. It includes age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, and the presence of a disability (Marshal et al., 2020). The international community recognizes that social development and justice can be achieved in conditions of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Nowadays, significant progress in international investments, capital flows, and trade, along with the development of information technologies, cause globalization and interdependence. In turn, it promotes the world economy’s growth and the rise and improvement of living standards throughout the world (Malihah, 2019). In the aspect of social justice of work, emphasis is placed on guaranteeing the achievement of fair results for all through the provision of employment. Moreover, one should provide meeting fundamental rights and principles, social dialogue, and protection to workers.

It should be noted that social justice is an ambiguous concept. Public equity means receiving benefits according to merit but, at the same time, caring for the vulnerable sections of society (Yacounian & Hansson, 2020). Today, social justice can also be understood as equality before the law, social security, and considering the vital needs of the country’s population. Social equity can be called a universal human value since its manifestations are natural for any healthy society.

To conclude, social justice is one of the foundations of modern civil society. It is on par with other eternal values such as culture, knowledge, human life, peace, and morality. A country that supports social justice for its own citizens participates in the formation of an active civil society. At the same time, social justice allows citizens to feel the rule of law and equal access to their own rights and obligations.

Malihah, E. (2019). Research for social justice: Proceedings of the international seminar on research for social justice . Routledge.

Marshall, C., Pepin, C. G., & Johnson, M. (2020). Educational politics for social justice . Teachers College Press.

Yacoubian, H. A., & Hansson, L. (2020). Nature of science for social justice . Springer Nature.

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IvyPanda. (2024, February 24). Social Justice and Human Rights. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-justice-and-human-rights/

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116 Social Justice Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on social justice, 🔎 easy social justice research paper topics, 🎓 most interesting social justice research titles, 💡 simple social justice essay ideas, ❓ social justice research questions.

  • The Environment and Social Justice
  • Social Justice and Equality in America
  • Social Justice, Education, and Critical Pedagogy
  • Racial Discrimination as a Social Justice Issue
  • Ethics and Social Justice in Mental Health System
  • Social Justice and Civil Rights
  • Criminal and Social Justice
  • Gun Violence as the Social Justice Issue The aim of the paper is to describe the issue of gun violence, analyze the reasons for the problem and propose a possible solution.
  • Advocating for Social Justice Nurses should continue advocating for social justice and suggest strategies to fix the system, making the system genuinely fair.
  • Teacher’s Reflection, Liberal Arts and Social Justice The use of reflection by a teacher in the process of writing and thinking enables him/her to reflect on how effective a lesson is.
  • The Social Justice and Nutrition in a Family This paper provides a wider understanding of the practical application of social justice and how the social determinants of health can be used in the description of the family.
  • The Principle of Social Justice in World Religions This essay examines the principle of social justice as the subject of a comparative study among the three schools of thought: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism .
  • Working for Social Justice Instances of social inequality are common in the current century. This paper discusses the different authors who address the topic of social justice.
  • Gender Equity and Social Justice in Schoolchildren Gender inequality can easily be identified in schools by observing how students tend to micro-interact and aggregate in particular activities or groups.
  • Social Justice Protests Regarding Abortions This study aims to understand abortion rights and how they were significant in women’s equality. Roe v. Rode was a case that challenged the rule about abortion.
  • Creative Voices as Social Justice Advocates Poetic language presents information in a way that enables readers to relate the message to their personal experiences and make informed decisions.
  • Engineering Ethics Education for Social Justice The incident at Morales is a case that provides the reader and the viewers with a moral problem that is arguably confronted at work and home.
  • Individual Responsibilities on Definirion of Social Justice Issues Considering divergent opinions from reviews concerning the non-precision or non-existence of the definition of social justice.
  • General Definitions of Social Justice It is essential to provide several general definitions of social justice that will allow us to fully understand and appreciate this concept.
  • Criminal and Social Justice Intersection: Annotated Bibliography The annotated bibliography of the sources where the criminal and social justice intersection relations are researched.
  • How to Promote Social Justice in Nursing Social justice plays an instrumental role in nursing by ensuring that inequalities do not deprive marginalized groups of access to quality healthcare services.
  • Social Justice and Barriers in Healthcare One of the most important social justice topics that relate not only to nursing in particular but to healthcare in general, is affordable healthcare.
  • The Concept of Social Justice in Nursing Social justice in nursing relates to human rights and equality in the nursing practice and addresses inequalities arising from race, gender, age, religion, etc.
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Its Contribution to Social Justice This paper focuses on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discussing its coverage in scholarly literature, implications for the public, and discussions in Congress.
  • Autonomy and Social Justice for African American and Latino Populations These study objectives are formulated so that the findings will promote autonomy and social justice among the study population.
  • Social Justice: American Arab, Jewish American, and Africans Jewish Americans have many variations of cultural features depending on the degree of involvement in religion.
  • Exploration of Social Justice Aspects One can state that the government should play a significant role in support for families with children while ensuring child welfare measures being taken are fair.
  • The Climate of Social Justice, Racism, COVID-19, and Other Issues The paper argues ideas of music, culture and society are contended to be inseparably connected, which can be clarified through the space of ethnomusicology.
  • Social Justice in Britain’s Workforce Although racism has been outlawed as a social vice, nonetheless, racial discrimination is still one of the major ethical dilemmas in the modern workplace.
  • Female Genital Cutting and Social Justice A female genital cutting is a form of female circumcision extremely detrimental to the natural function of the female body.
  • Social Justice and Sustainable Business Practices Corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies are gradually acquiring legal effects as they are integrated into elements such as supply chain contracts and labor law.
  • The Black Lives Matter Movement as the Call for Social Justice: Analyzing Available Sources of Information A range of sources shed light on the movement The Black Lives Matter, its goals, and the accomplishments that it has achieved so far. This paper analyses some of them.
  • American Policing and Social Justice Social justice is a phenomenon that reflects the economic, political, legal, and moral conditions of life and the development of society.
  • Catholic Moral Teaching on Charity and Social Justice This paper discusses why Catholic moral teaching is so concerned with charity and social justice and how it can influence the rate of immorality that goes on in this world.
  • Social Justice to Maintain Democracy in Australia This essay will look into the impact of social justice concepts in maintaining democracy in Australian society.
  • Reconciliation, Australian Aborigines, and Social Justice The objective of the paper is to discuss the relevance of the policy of reconciliation and relevance of the policy of reconciliation to social justice for Australian Aborigines.
  • Narrative for Advancing a Social Justice Agenda Gender parity in education is changing, but gender inequality continues to exist in favor for boys in Los Angles.
  • Social Justice and Books: Educational Aspects Sherman Alexie’s quote is quite harsh, but true: young adult fiction should not become milder or sweeter just because some of the critics see is as too daunting.
  • Getting Involved in Advocacy Practice for Social Justice Analyzing the main factors influencing the willingness of people to get involved in advocacy efforts is the key to figuring out how to boost the activity of the workers.
  • Social Justice and Pregnant Addicted Mothers When a pregnant mother is addicted to alcohol and drug, she may end up causing irreparable damage to the unborn child.
  • The Social Justice Concept Definition In this article, it is argued that the concept of social justice represents entanglements between policy arenas of social welfare and crime control.
  • Social Justice Towards War Veterans
  • Freedom, Capitalism, and Institutions for Delivering Social Justice
  • Social Justice, Utilitarianism, and Indigenous Australians
  • Public Health and Social Justice in the Age of Chadwick
  • Social Justice, Free Market Style
  • Self-Ownership and Social Justice among Libertarians
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  • Old and New Testament Views on Social Justice Religion
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  • 19th Century Jihads and Social Justice, Security, and Prosperity
  • Human Morality and Social Justice
  • Justice and the Moral Code of Social Justice
  • Social Justice and the Performing Arts in Appalachia
  • Technology and the Advancement of Social Justice
  • Ottawa Charter Social Justice Principles
  • Relationship Between Education and Social Justice
  • Legal and Social Justice for Hispanics and Women
  • Criminal and Social Justice Issues
  • Natural Resources, Economic Rents, and Social Justice in Contemporary Africa
  • Social Justice and Adult Education
  • Health and Social Justice Issues in Saharan Country
  • Social Justice Movement and Social Work
  • Residential Segregation and Social Justice
  • Social Justice Towards Students with Disabilities
  • Racial Discrimination, the Complete Opposite of Social Justice
  • Parental Participation for Social Justice in Education
  • Social Justice and Its Impact on the United States
  • The Vietnam War and Its Impact on the Creation of Social Justice
  • Social Justice Historic Marxist Classical Writers Believe
  • How the Congressional Black Caucus Uses Social Media to Address Social Justice Issues
  • Social Justice and Injustice in Kenya
  • Race, Medicine, and Social Justice: Pharmacogenetics, Diversity, and the Case of Bid
  • Social Justice and the Canadian Correctional System
  • The Biblical Prophets’ Teachings on the Love of God in Social Justice
  • Social Justice: The Role of Higher Education, Criminality and Race
  • Multicultural Education and Social Justice Education
  • Globalization and Social Justice in OECD Countries
  • Social Justice and Special Needs Students
  • Income Disparity and Social Justice Based on Graph
  • Social Justice and Different Views of Natural Law among XIX Century Economics
  • Producing and Practicing Social Justice in Education
  • What Does Teaching for Social Justice Mean for Teacher?
  • Nations and Social Classes as the Greatest Barriers to Social Justice
  • Anthropology and Social Justice Convergence
  • What Does Social Justice Mean?
  • Are Consultation and Social Justice Advocacy Similar?
  • What Are the Principles of Social Justice and Inclusion?
  • Does Perceiving the Poor as Warm and the Rich as Cold Enhance Perceived Social Justice?
  • What Has Limited the Impact of UK Disability Equality Law on Social Justice?
  • How Does the Film “Lord of the Flies” Relate to Social Justice?
  • Why Are Diversity and Inclusion Important for Social Justice?
  • How Can Social Justice Be Achieved in Our Society Today?
  • What Is the Most Important Issue in Social Justice?
  • Does Social Justice Highlight the Relationship Between Social Welfare and Crime Control?
  • What Is Needed to Achieve Social Justice?
  • Is Social Justice Just About Equality?
  • What Is the Relationship Between Equality and Social Justice?
  • Is Social Justice a Reasonable Relationship Between the Individual and Society?
  • What Is the Main Focus of Social Justice?
  • How Does Social Justice Impact Society?
  • What Is the Role of Social Justice in Social Work?
  • Is Inclusion a Part of Social Justice?
  • How Can We Promote Social Justice in the Community?
  • Who Is Responsible for Social Justice and Why?
  • How Can Social Justice Be Maintained in the Society?
  • What Would Happen to the World Without Social Justice?
  • Does Social Justice Apply to Everyone?
  • What Is the Golden Rule of Social Justice?
  • Are Human Rights Based on the Concept of Social Justice?

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StudyCorgi. (2022, October 26). 116 Social Justice Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-justice-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "116 Social Justice Essay Topics." October 26, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-justice-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "116 Social Justice Essay Topics." October 26, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-justice-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Social Justice were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 9, 2024 .

social justice essay topics

Social Justice Essay Topics: 75 Most Inspirational Ideas

college essays about social justice

In today's ever-evolving world, conversations surrounding social justice have become increasingly vital, igniting passion and prompting action among individuals of all ages. For students, exploring topics related to social justice deepens their understanding of societal issues and empowers them to advocate for change in their communities and beyond. This article serves as a comprehensive guide, presenting diverse social justice essay topics tailored to engage and challenge students of varying interests and backgrounds. From examining systemic inequalities to exploring the intersections of identity and privilege, these thought-provoking topics invite students to critically analyze and articulate their perspectives on pressing social justice issues of our time.

How to Choose a Social Justice Essay Topic?

First things first, students using our sociology essay writing service obtain a turnkey-ready document with a topic already selected and explored in a written form. If you want to complete the task on your own, consider the following steps when selecting a social justice essay topic:

  • Identify Your Interests

Reflect on social justice issues that resonate with you personally. Consider topics related to race, gender, class, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, or other areas of concern.

  • Research Current Events

Stay informed about current events and social justice movements. Explore news articles, documentaries, and scholarly publications to identify timely and relevant topics for your essay.

  • Evaluate Your Knowledge

Assess your existing knowledge and expertise in different areas of social justice. Choose a topic you feel passionate about and confident discussing while also being open to learning and researching new perspectives.

  • Consider Audience Impact

Think about your audience and the potential impact of your essay. Choose a topic that is thought-provoking and relevant, capturing the attention of your readers and inspiring meaningful dialogue.

  • Explore Intersectionality

Recognize the interconnectedness of social justice issues and explore topics that intersect with multiple identities and experiences. Consider how race, gender, class, sexuality, and other factors intersect to shape individuals' lived experiences.

  • Seek Diverse Perspectives

Engage with various sources and viewpoints to comprehensively understand your chosen topic. Consider incorporating perspectives from marginalized communities and amplifying voices often marginalized or silenced.

  • Brainstorm Ideas

Generate a list of potential essay topics and narrow down your options based on relevance, feasibility, and personal interest. Discuss your ideas with peers, mentors, or instructors for feedback and guidance.

  • Align with Learning Objectives

If your essay is for an academic assignment, ensure that your chosen topic aligns with the learning objectives and requirements. Clarify any guidelines or expectations with your instructor before proceeding.

  • Stay Ethical

When addressing sensitive social justice topics, approach your essay with empathy, sensitivity, and integrity. Respect the dignity and experiences of individuals and communities affected by the issues you discuss.

  • Stay Open to Revision

Remain flexible and open to revising your topic as you conduct research and refine your understanding. Be willing to adapt your essay topic based on new insights and developments in social justice.

college essays about social justice

Top 10 Social Justice Essay Topics

  • The importance of empathy in social justice movements.
  • Addressing systemic racism.
  • Challenging stereotypes and discrimination.
  • LGBTQ+ rights, inclusivity, and acceptance.
  • Economic justice and the wealth gap.
  • Environmental justice and protecting vulnerable communities.
  • Ensuring accessibility and accommodation for disabled people.
  • Criminal justice reform.
  • Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and cultural preservation.
  • Immigration and refugee rights.

Best Social Justice Essay Topics in 2024

Interesting Social Justice Essay Topics

  • The impact of economic disparity on social opportunity.
  • Addressing bias in law enforcement practices.
  • Achieving pay equality across genders.
  • Breaking down barriers to education.
  • Advancing rights for the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Equity in environmental protection.
  • Humanizing immigration policies.
  • Ensuring inclusion for people with disabilities.
  • Reforming the criminal justice system.
  • Solving the crisis of homelessness.
  • Fighting discrimination in the workplace.
  • Access to affordable healthcare for all.
  • Bridging the digital divide: internet access as a human right.
  • Indigenous rights and land sovereignty.
  • Tackling food insecurity and hunger in our communities.

Good Social Justice Essay Topics

  • The importance of supporting marginalized communities.
  • Youth activism and its impact on social change.
  • Addressing mental health stigma.
  • Social media's role in raising awareness.
  • Understanding and addressing cultural appropriation.
  • Ensuring access to clean water as a human right.
  • Closing the gender wealth gap through economic empowerment.
  • Recognizing intersecting forms of injustice.
  • Examining the impact of gentrification on communities.
  • Ensuring fair treatment in the gig economy.
  • Examining environmental injustice.
  • Healing communities through restorative justice.
  • Supporting refugee integration.
  • Protecting voting rights and combating voter suppression.
  • Strategies to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.

Simple Social Justice Essay Topics

  • Achieving wage equality regardless of gender.
  • Ensuring accountability in law enforcement practices.
  • Providing affordable housing options for everyone.
  • Debating healthcare accessibility for all citizens.
  • Closing the education gap for marginalized groups.
  • Addressing pollution disparities in poorer areas.
  • Examining racial bias within the legal system.
  • Promoting fair treatment of workers.
  • Humanizing immigration policies for migrants.
  • Building inclusive communities for people with disabilities.
  • Eradicating hunger locally and globally.
  • Advancing LGBTQ+ rights worldwide.
  • Understanding and addressing wealth disparity.
  • Implementing restorative justice approaches.
  • Securing housing as a fundamental human right.

Research Questions About Social Justice

  • How does socioeconomic status impact access to justice?
  • What are the effects of racial profiling on marginalized communities?
  • How can educational institutions promote social justice?
  • What are the barriers to healthcare access for underserved populations?
  • How does media representation influence perceptions of social justice issues?
  • What are the root causes of gender inequality in the workplace?
  • How can environmental policies be made more equitable for all communities?
  • What role does systemic discrimination play in the criminal justice system?
  • How do immigration policies affect the rights of migrant workers?
  • What are the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing public services?
  • How does food insecurity intersect with other social justice issues?
  • What strategies can be implemented to address LGBTQ+ discrimination in society?
  • What factors contribute to income inequality within societies?
  • How effective are restorative justice practices in resolving conflicts?
  • What interventions are most successful in combating homelessness and housing insecurity?
  • How do cultural biases impact the administration of justice in diverse societies?
  • What are the effects of gentrification on the displacement of marginalized communities?
  • How do historical injustices continue to influence contemporary social inequalities?
  • What are the implications of globalization on labor rights and fair wages?
  • How can community-based initiatives contribute to social justice outcomes at the grassroots level?

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Social Justice Essay | Essay on Social Justice for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Social Justice Essay: A discussion of social justice should start with a definition of the term. It is said that this task can be difficult. If you do a Google search about social justice, the primary outcome offers a meaning of social justice.

It would define social justice as the reasonable and appropriate organization of laws adjusting to the customary law that all people, independent of ethnic birthplace, gender assets, race, religion, and so forth, are to be dealt with similarly and without bias. Social justice is an idea of a general public where each individual is dealt with fairly, without segregation dependent on budgetary status, race, gender, nationality, and so forth.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long and Short Essays on Social Justice for Students and Kids in English

We provide students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on Social Justice for reference.

Long Essay on Social Justice 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Social Justice is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Social justice is an idea of reasonable or adjusted relations between the individual and society as estimated by the conveyance of abundance that incorporates individual action and social advantage openings. In Western as well as in more established Asian societies, the idea of social justice has regularly alluded to the way toward guaranteeing that people satisfy their cultural jobs and get what was their due from society.

Social justice isn’t an “us versus them” mindset; rather, it is a “we are in it together” attitude where the amazing and weak work together.

A Jesuit priest named Luigi Taparelli coined the term first in the 1780s and spread during the revolutions of 1848. In the late industrial revolution, innovative American legal scholars started to use the term more, especially Louis Brandeis and Roscoe Pound. The various ideas of social justice, as examined in the old Western way of thinking, were normally focused upon the community. Plato believed that rights existed only between free people. During the middle Ages, some religious scholars discussion of justice in various ways,

After the Renaissance and Reformation, the advanced idea of social justice, as creating human potential, started to arise through crafted by a progression of creators.

Today, the idea of social justice frequently alludes to basic liberties, revolved around improving the lives of gatherings minimized dependent on race, identity, ethnicity, gender, sexual direction, age, religion and handicap. The five principles of social justice are Equity, Access, Diversity, Participation, Human Rights. Social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality.

For example, income inequality is one significant issue that is encompassed within the umbrella of social justice. The data shows that income inequality has been increasing for the past thirty years. Social justice can comprehend many issues, but ultimately, it is a crucial component of healing many of the deep divisions that the world is experiencing. While some people may criticize the idea of social justice or the need for swift action to solve some serious economic and racial issues, a proactive approach on social justice, like voting or protesting will lead to a better, brighter country.

While several global groups are looking to provide equal rights to all, racial discrimination is nonetheless a hot topic. There are laws in the area around the world, but many incidents occur to illustrate that racial discrimination has not been irradiated. Discrimination comes in all shapes. The number of birthdays that you have accrued is another example.

Ageism, where the aged are discriminated against, creates negative stereotypes of the aged being weak, feeble, or unable to change. Beyond discrimination based on age, other hot topics are gender and sexuality. In recent years, gender has morphed into a complicated topic that goes beyond the binary designations of male and female.

Social justice allocates the rights and duties in the institutions of our society, which enables people to receive the basic benefits and burdens of cooperation. It helps us work toward celebrating diversity in our communities and country.

Short Essay on Social Justice 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Social Justice is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Social justice is a hypothesis of nondiscriminatory and unbiased relations between an individual and society. Observable but unspoken terms determine it for the distribution of wealth, opportunities for personal activity and social privileges.

Luigi Taparelli coined the term first in the 1780s and spread during the revolutions of 1848. Socrates is credited with developing the idea of a social contract. After the Renaissance and Reformation, the advanced idea of social justice, as creating human potential, started to arise through crafted by a progression of creators.

With the modern era, the face of social justice has changed. While rallies and marches are still prevalent, the Internet is also used to bring social justice issues to light. This can be seen through movements like #blacklivesmatter and the #metoo movement against sexual harassment. These campaigns work to expand issues into bigger movements that rally activists together. Other than that voting, campaigning is the basic approaches of social justice.

10 Lines on Social Justice in English

  • Luigi Taparelli coined the term first in 1780s.
  • The term social justice is spread during the revolutions of 1848.
  • The #metoo movement had an impact all over the world.
  • Social justice can organize with others to accomplish ends that benefit the whole community.
  • Income inequality is one of the biggest social problems now.
  • Social justice helps us work toward celebrating diversity in our communities and country.
  • One of the most useful thing in social justice is the vote.
  • Twenty-three nations around the world currently allow same-sex marriage through social justice.
  • Nepal is one of at least five countries where your gender can now appear as “other” on official statements.
  • 20th February is the world day of social justice.

FAQ’s on Social Justice Essay

Question 1. What is an example of social justice?

Answer:  The #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements are two examples of social justice in action in the United States,

Question 2. What are now important five social problems?

Answer: Poverty, Drug abuse, Prostitution, Racial discrimination are examples of social problems.

Question 3.  Is social justice good?

Answer: Social justice can organize with others to accomplish ends that benefit the whole community.

Question 4. To what extent does power or the lack of power affect individuals?

Answer: power or the lack of power can affect individuals in a bad way and a good way. For example, power can make you corrupted, and lack of power can make you ambitious.

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Social Justice College Essays Samples For Students

157 samples of this type

Do you feel the need to check out some previously written College Essays on Social Justice before you start writing an own piece? In this free catalog of Social Justice College Essay examples, you are granted a fascinating opportunity to discover meaningful topics, content structuring techniques, text flow, formatting styles, and other academically acclaimed writing practices. Adopting them while crafting your own Social Justice College Essay will surely allow you to finalize the piece faster.

Presenting the finest samples isn't the only way our free essays service can aid students in their writing efforts – our authors can also compose from point zero a fully customized College Essay on Social Justice that would make a solid basis for your own academic work.

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The Doonesbury cartoon presented in the question contains the quintessential arguments both for and against social justice. The NAACP representative in the cartoon—really a representative of all minority groups that fight for social justice—is acting by calling in doomsday propositions based on the current events in society. This is a parody that many people in the majority have about minority cultures—that because really terrible forms of discrimination were in the past and are no longer practiced, modern society does not need to recognize that there are still forms of discrimination practiced every day.

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Mohammad Ali, born as Cassius Marcellus Clay, took the personal fear and tribulations of the Black people in American history to transform himself into a world champion.

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  • Make affordable health insurance accessible to all people. It offers subsidies for households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, which lowers their costs.
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The Australia Institute of Health and Welfare Report, Child protection Australia, 2008-2009 reported that 34,000 children were moved from their parents and placed in out-of-home care (Narushima, 2010). The number was an increase of 9% from the previous year. The report also noted that compared to non-indigenous children, indigenous aboriginal children were 7 times more likely to be abused, and even more likely to be placed in out-of-home care (Narushima, 2010). Moreover, the report noted that while boys were likely to suffer physical abuse, girls were likely to suffer sexual abuse.

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Social Justice refers to the concept of creating a society that is built on the principles of equality and unity, understands human rights, and acknowledges the dignity of every human being.

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Roosevelt Review (Archives, 2014-2018)

Archives of roosevelt review: the roosevelt university alumni magazine, faculty essay: what is social justice.

May 14, 2015 by Susan Torres-Harding, associate professor of psychology 2 Comments

Susan Torres-Harding is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology. Her research interests include understanding the impact of sociocultural factors on physical and psychological health and assessing the development of social justice attitudes and social activism. She earned her PhD in Clinical Child Psychology from DePaul University in 2001.

Social justice has always been an important value to me and a foundation for my career aspirations. Therefore, in 2006, I was pleased to join the faculty at Roosevelt University, a university founded on inclusivity and one with a strong focus on social justice and social action. I quickly realized that this was a friendly “home” where I could continue to discuss the impact of societal inequalities and discrimination in health care, my own area of research.

At the same time, I was intrigued by the reactions of friends and colleagues when I told them that I was now at Roosevelt. Invariably, I would meet people who had been at Roosevelt in those early years, and they would tell me stories about what a special place Roosevelt is. They described Roosevelt as a school where people of all races came together—a college unlike others. The pictures hanging on the walls of the Auditorium Building from those early years are visual reminders of this truly unique integration of people from diverse racial groups at a time when racial segregation was the norm. Today Roosevelt continues to be ethnically and racially diverse, but the world has changed since Roosevelt came into being in 1945. In addition to racial injustice, which regrettably remains prevalent in our society, we now truly confront other forms of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, social class and disability status.

As a Roosevelt psychology professor, I often talked in my classes about social justice as a key value for the Roosevelt community, but I found students grappled with the meaning of social justice. What is social justice? Whom is it for? Many students talked about social justice as if it were a high-minded ideal, unrealistic or impractical to do in real life. While we often discussed the need to use our knowledge and skills to work for a more fair and just society, I wondered if students had become overwhelmed with the amount of injustice in society and whether they believed they could actually make a difference in the world.

This led me to ask myself, what do students think social justice is all about? More importantly, I wanted to know what I could do to empower them to take action and strive to make a difference while at Roosevelt and after.

In response to these questions, I started a series of studies to investigate how students understood social justice and how, if at all, they were learning about our social justice message and integrating it into their own lives. What did all of this talk of social justice mean to the students? And, how could we, as educators, facilitate the goals of students who had the sincere desire to promote social justice, but who also had the notion that it was too hard, impractical, unrealistic or idealistic? As an educator, I had a personal stake in these questions. I wanted to know if integrating social justice concerns into my classes was actually making a difference in how students viewed themselves, their communities, and their own personal and professional actions. In other words, were we living up to the Roosevelt University mission of educating “socially conscious citizens”? Does talking about social justice make a difference, or is it all a lot of feel-good talk that is disconnected from reality?

Students Define Social Justice

To begin answering some of these questions, my research team and I embarked on a study to first understand how students defined social justice. In textbooks, researchers and educators define social justice as “involving the recognition of the existence of social injustices based upon being a member of a non-dominant or marginalized social group.” These marginalized social groups can include people who live in poverty, women, people who are LGBTQ, people who are disabled, people from racial and cultural minority groups, and people who have severe mental illness or have a substance abuse disorder. Researchers also defined social justice as “a value or desire to increase access of power, privileges and socioeconomic resources to people from socially marginalized groups.”

But is this how students thought about social justice? I believed it unlikely that most students would think about social justice in such abstract terms. So we conducted a study with Roosevelt students simply asking how they defined social justice. We found that students were relatively consistent in their definitions. They tended to describe social justice as addressing injustices in equality and promoting opportunity, rights, fairness and acceptance of everyone, including people from diverse backgrounds. Interestingly, a significant proportion (44 percent) of the students said they engaged in some activity that promoted social justice.

Additionally, we asked students to describe what they were actually doing to promote social justice. In most academic papers, social activism is defined as political activism: marching in protests, attending rallies, writing legislators or voting in order to promote policy or legal changes.

They tended to describe social justice as addressing injustices in equality and promoting opportunity, rights, fairness and acceptance of everyone, including people from diverse backgrounds.

Interestingly, there was a tremendous range of responses to our question. In addition to political activism, we identified many different categories of social justice activities, including conducting social-justice-related research, being a member of or volunteering for an organization that focused on social activism, seeking out educational opportunities to learn more about social justice, engaging in advocacy on behalf of people from disadvantaged or marginalized groups, and talking to family and friends about social justice.

What was most impressive to me was the creativity displayed by students as they sought to promote social justice, as well as the diversity of issues addressed by their actions. Many students reported participating in marches, protests and other direct social actions for economic or racial change. One participant was working to promote social justice by acting in a short film that aimed to foster acceptance of LGBTQ youth during the coming out process. Some students were using a social justice approach when providing clinical services to children with developmental disabilities. A few reported that they were engaged in youth mentoring or were working on behalf of youth within the juvenile justice system. Others were working to promote racial justice, women’s empowerment and awareness around diversity-related justice. Still others described being LGBTQ allies or serving as advocates for women who have endured domestic and sexual violence. We also had students who volunteered at community or religious organizations to help individuals around issues of poverty and food security.

A significant number of students indicated that they spoke with family or friends about these issues. I think that these kinds of actions are more quiet forms of activism. Discussing issues of social justice with significant others might have the impact of changing attitudes or gaining support from them. In turn, this might ultimately increase awareness of social issues and might influence others to take action in some way in their own lives.

Many of the students’ efforts involved using resources available at Roosevelt University. These included engaging in social-justice related research, attending lectures, being part of student groups and organizations that promoted social justice such as RU PROUD (a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and ally organization) and Students for a Sensible Drug Policy , engaging in social justice as part of their professional clinical training and volunteering as part of service learning. Although less than half of the students we surveyed reported engaging in activism, those who were active appeared to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available at Roosevelt, and many sought to integrate these experiences with their academic studies.

Connecting With The Mission

The second study that my research team and I conducted focused on the role of the University mission in promoting positive attitudes toward social justice. I wanted to understand whether students who felt more involved at the University and agreed with its mission were in fact more likely to engage in social activism. Interestingly, I found that students who reported having a high sense of community—that is, feeling as if they belonged to the “Roosevelt family”—said they valued the social justice mission more.

Students who respected the social justice mission were much more likely to state that they intended to work for social justice in the future and felt that they possessed the skills to effect positive change. These students were also more likely to report having engaged in social activism, talk about social justice issues with family and friends and personally identify as social activists. It seems that Roosevelt’s social justice mission influenced students by impacting both positive attitudes toward social justice and facilitating the integration of social justice concerns into their personal and professional lives. Feeling a part of the Roosevelt community mattered because it allowed them to share in this core community value.

Thus, the mission and values of Roosevelt University are having an impact on our students’ actions. We are currently conducting additional studies where we hope to follow undergraduate students over time to see how their ideas and views of social justice might change as they move from freshman to senior year. We are also interviewing student activists to learn from their unique experiences, motivations and perceptions of their own work.

Indeed, it has been a pleasure to be able to assess and document the amazingly diverse and creative activism that is going on at Roosevelt. In addition to the examples listed above, Roosevelt students have participated in walk-outs and rallies in Grant Park, lobbied at the state capital, made videos to help educate others about traditionally marginalized groups, conducted interventions to promote health and wellness in our communities, and organized programs that give our students and people in the community a voice. We have so much to learn from our students!

An important part of social justice education is to trust that students are able to evaluate the information we provide and use it in a way that is valid, realistic and relevant to their own lives. Because students are able to come up with so many unique and creative ways to address injustices in their interpersonal and professional lives, professors should not provide answers, but rather should pose questions to help students recognize the real challenges in our society. We can encourage them to critically evaluate their own views and the views of others and provide them with a range of interventions and interpersonal skills that they can then use to confront a range of social problems and issues in their own ways. We also need to recognize that this is hard, risky work.

An important part of social justice education is to trust that students are able to evaluate the information we provide and use it in a way that is valid, realistic and relevant to their own lives.

Working for social justice is, by its nature, “radical” because it focuses on changing the status quo, challenging existing policies and can involve breaking rules. As educators, it is important that we not only talk about social justice but provide students with the skills they need to take action and be effective. Promoting favorable attitudes and teaching interpersonal intervention and activism skills will have a positive impact on students and help them fulfill the Roosevelt mission of creating “socially conscious citizens” who change the world.

Contact Susan Torres-Harding at [email protected]

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November 23, 2018 at 10:53 am

extremely nice one……..

[…] Faculty Essay: What is social justice? – Roosevelt Review – Faculty Essay; Scholarship Spotlight; Issue. Fall 2015; Spring 2015; Fall 2014; Faculty Essay: What is social justice … assessing the development of social justice … […]

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50 Social Justice Topics | Best Essay Writing Ideas

social justice topics

The phrase social justice may sound simple, but it covers a pretty diverse scope of issues affecting our society. These include religion, income equality, race, sexual orientation, and gender, among many others. Since these are issues we encounter every day, you will, on countless times in your student life, get assigned a social justice project. Note, this is regardless of what course you may be taking. Therefore, it’s wise to equip yourself with a selection of great social justice topics, and also know how to go about the writing process beforehand. Fortunately, you happen to be at the right place. Check out the roundup of great social justice research topics, as well as a few tips to guide you through the process below.

A List of Social Justice Topics

The key to writing an exemplary social justice research paper is equipping with a list of good social justice topics you are both interested in and that have plenty of information sources. On that note, check out the list below

General Social Justice Topic Ideas

  • What impact does diversity have on social justice?
  • Define social justice
  • How a corporate policy can affect the staff’s mental health
  • What is your take on fundraisers? Are they real charities or money laundering projects?
  • Explain the background and reasons that often lead to employee riots
  • What should immigrating foreigners expect? A better life or condemnation?
  • Explain the connection between globalization and the increase in substance abuse rates
  • Describe the political side of most modern wars.
  • Obesity as an obstacle to one’s social life
  • Increasing unemployment as the direct consequence of economic recessions
  • The impact of global warming on small island nations such as the Maldives
  • History and the progression of the idea in Western political thought
  • Globalization on international hospitality and tourism and how it impacts the local population
  • Non-governmental organizations, are they positive activists of change?
  • LGBTQ + pride movement
  • Describe the negative impact of societal beauty standards
  • What is the extent of abuse and neglect in orphanages, care homes, and orphanages

Good Social Justice Debate Topics

  • Can peace exist without war?
  • Define the relationship between social media and the increased cases of suicide
  • Reverse discrimination- a myth or reality?
  • A world of peace- is it real, or is it just a far-fetched fantasy?
  • Is the issuing of green cards a privilege or a necessity?
  • Should we perceive it as sex work or paid rape?
  • The church and the state- is it possible for them to remain separate?
  • Will gun control laws help reduce mass shootings?
  • Is consent a valid concept in the porn industry?
  • Building a wall between the US and Mexico? Logical or racist?
  • The immunization debate; should vaccination be mandatory?

Social Justice Speech Topics

  • Who pays the price of war and terrorism?
  • Talk about white privilege in the media
  • Can social media help society overcome the problem of illiteracy?
  • Talk about child abuse prevention strategies in the US
  • The societal impact on teenage smoking
  • Dating violence among university and college students
  • The effect of TV on infant child development
  • The issue of discrimination; do existing policies adequately protect citizens?
  • Problems brought about by illiteracy
  • Economic issues in developing countries and their link to the US economy
  • Address discrimination in sports

Social Justice Topics in Education

  • Why is peace education rare than shooting classes
  • Describe the mistreatment or abuse of autistic kids in elementary schools
  • Should our educational system be flexible enough to accommodate the evolving world, or is it a much wiser idea to retain the old standards?
  • Discrimination against the female gender or non-citizens in our education system
  • The impact of illiteracy on our community today
  • The impact of bullying and anxiety development in teenagers
  • Social media as the new form of bullying
  • How accessible is our educational system, the poor, migrant works, refugees, and other minority groups?
  • Mandatory uniform as a means to wipe out student identity
  • Can social media help our society overcome the problem of illiteracy?
  • Free education for everyone, will it ever become a reality

Thoughts On Social Justice Essay Writing

Writing an essay on social justice is not only a regular part of your student life but is meant to train you into a functioning adult in society. Writing on different social justice research topics will also help you keep up with the trends and changes taking place in our society. Therefore, to write the perfect social justice essay ensure you

Choose Social Justice Topics Wisely

When it comes to writing on social justice, it’s wise to choose a topic relevant to the community at that time. For instance, all social justice topics on our list directly impact society today. Therefore, choosing to write on any of them will cause controversy because not everyone has the same opinion as you. Hence, your audience, in this case, your professor, will be curious to see how you handle a particular social justice issue.

But other than being relevant, good social justice topics usually have plenty of research material. So apart from choosing a topic related to 2023, make sure whatever you opt to write about won’t leave you all drained.

Invest in Research

Social justice topics such as bullying in school usually have plenty of press. In that breath, you want to make your essay on social justice as unique and as memorable as possible. Therefore, instead of writing what everyone knows, go the extra mile in doing your research. For instance, if your social justice topic of choice is bullying, choose to address the psychological part of it, instead of the regular effects most students do.

Support Your Stance with Examples

As noted earlier, social justice mainly focuses on issues that affect our everyday lives. It is all about things that take place in our community regularly. Therefore, read the relevant college essay examples to help your audience relate to the social justice topic you’ve chosen to write about on a personal level. For instance, if you are talking about climate change, use examples that will hit close to home, such as increased energy costs. This way, your audience understands just how critical climate change is and why they should take action!

Keep your social justice essay very simple. Once you are done, revise and edit it to confirm that it is flawless. To make sure you submit a plagiarism-free paper and excellent grades, we advise you to hire our essay writers .

It’s your lucky day! Use promo “ custom20 ” – we’ve prepared a 20% discount off your social justice writing assignment from the best academic writers!

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In Search of Social Justice: One Student’s Path to a Ph.D.

Betelihem Tobo, M.P.H. ‘17, and current Ph.D. student, clearly remembers the moment she realized she wanted to commit to a doctoral degree.

While helping a professor with a research study on maternal and child health outcomes, one of the participants unexpectedly decided to share her story with Tobo. The participant talked about the environment of poverty and violence she had been born into; how it affected her relationships and decisions throughout her life; and her motivation to break the cycle for her newborn. “I left that room and thought ‘I need to learn more’,” Tobo said. “I wanted to learn about social determinants and understand what’s going on mechanistically; but it’s hard to study the effect of income or education on a person’s health in the lab.” “But public health has found ways to get around that; they’re helping us understand what’s going on in these really complicated relationships between life exposures and health outcomes that we’re just starting to understand are really significant. It’s not just about a pathogen that enters your body...that’s not what health is confined to.” At the time, Tobo was completing a Master of Public Health degree , a field she was drawn to after discovering it could help her answer questions that formed in her early childhood, growing up in Ethiopia and witnessing a lot of “brokenness and poverty” on the streets. She came to the United States at the age of 8 thanks to a diversity visa. She chose Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice because of the social justice mission. “I think about social justice in terms of what we shouldn’t be seeing. What we see in this world is that your social identity does affect your mental health, your emotional health...your physical health. And... whether or not you belong; whether or not society says that you have value, dignity, worth and you’re able to contribute to the best of your ability,” she says, adding:

“We’ve unintentionally written these narratives so that being black, for example, is automatically associated with negative health outcomes when, in fact, it’s not bad -- it’s the lived experiences and how society responds to those social identities that is leading to those negative outcomes.”

For her dissertation, Tobo has chosen to deepen her knowledge of factors influencing maternal and child health outcomes, exploring the relationship risk of unplanned pregnancy and dental and mental health. As a researcher, Tobo aims to illustrate the bigger picture behind social factors and health.

About the College for Public Health and Social Justice

The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities.

It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the College offers nationally recognized programs in public health, social work, health administration, applied behavior analysis,  criminology and criminal justice and urban planning and development.

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Social Justice Essay: Successful Admission Paper Sample

EssayEdge > Blog > Social Justice Essay: Successful Admission Paper Sample

Note: This essay appears unedited for instructional purposes. Essays edited by EssayEdge are substantially improved. For samples of EssayEdge editing, please  click here .

June 1987. Age 19. I was traveling by train. My destination: Refugio del Rio Grande, a cooperatively run Central American refugee camp on the Mexican border. For three months, I would be the only “outsider” living and working there. That summer, I taught English to refugees. I helped them prepare asylum applications. I sang folk songs, cooked tortillas, and drank with them. Machete in hand, I joined them in clearing fields, chopping wood, and planting corn. I listened to their narrations of political tyranny and economic subordination, and to their yearnings for change. I joined them in their attempts at democratic, communal decision-making. And at some point I stopped thinking of the refugees as “them”. For a brief time, their struggle became mine, and the distinction of who was helping whom became blurred. A turning point.

February 1992. Age 23. I was traveling by rental car (consciously American manufactured). My destination: River Rouge, a working-class suburb of Detroit. Map in lap, I drove in circles, my frenzied daily efforts again frustrated by a notoriously poor sense of direction. I managed to stumble upon my destination at 9:58 p.m., minutes before the nightly deadline for unannounced visits, parked and scurried to the door. This worker-my eighteenth of the day-offered several compelling reasons for not wanting to participate in a United Steelworkers’ Union organizing drive. I found myself unable to even attempt an inspiring “union rap”, trying instead to understand his dilemma, and leaving his home without even suggesting he sign a union card. I was not a great labor organizer.

These sketches are two examples of the various social justice-related jobs I have undertaken over the past several years. In choosing to work in diverse capacities over a range of issues, I have followed three objectives: first, to challenge my views on different problems; second, to examine the effectiveness and limitations of different strategies for affecting progressive social change; and third, to test my own aptitude, interest, and personal capacity for working in different professional roles. My attached resume thus documents a variety of issue areas (immigration, homelessness, civil rights, human rights, education, labor, and children’s rights) and roles (social worker, policy analyst, researcher, teacher, community and labor organizer, and legal advocate).

As the two episodes suggest, this process revealed my interests, abilities, and limitations. Above all, several work experiences fostered an interest in law as an instrument to, and obstacle of, social change. For example, my work with the NJ Supreme Court Task Force on Minority Concerns, on a study uncovering and proposing remedies to de facto discrimination within the legal system, underlined law’s potency for both perpetuating and combating injustice. My work with the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (LCHR) introduced me to law’s potential for affecting change though creative, non-adversarial means. The results of the pilot parole project I coordinated at LCHR was cited in INS’ decision to change its national policy on paroling asylum applicants.

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Yet it was working for The Alliance for Children’s Rights on cases of individual representation that ultimately convinced me to choose law as a vocation. As a founding staff member of the first organization in Southern California devoted exclusively to defending the legal rights of low income children, I had the opportunity to experience the excitement of creating a progressive law practice which served critical, previously unmet needs. As Intake Coordinator, I had to quickly familiarize myself with legal areas ranging from dependency and delinquency to public benefits, family, housing, and civil rights law. As well, I developed a system for interviewing the children and assessing the cases for placement with pro bono attorneys. My relationships with the young clients gave me direct insight into the way in which law, practiced properly, can empower people to themselves take a stand against injury and injustice, and the difference this transformation makes to their self-esteem and individual fortitude.

Finally, I have tried, through my academic work, to complement action with reflection. College courses enabled me to begin grappling with broad theoretical questions of social justice, political morality, and jurisprudence. My current graduate course work in political theory is an effort to enhance my capacity to sort through these issues. I look forward to law school as a way to continue these theoretical explorations. More importantly, I am hopeful that studying law will ground the questions in a practical framework, enabling me to develop the technical skills needed to work toward progressive change: change which expands individual life chances, redresses historic inequities in well-being, and minimizes the subordination of some individuals and groups by others.

Use this essay sample to test your editing skills and compare it to the edited version. Don’t be disappointed if they differ — our team consists of Ivy League graduates. You don’t need to have outstanding editing and proofreading skills when you have us — an excellent essay revision service.

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Tag: Social Justice Essay

How to Write the 2021 University of Texas Application Essays Part 1

How to Write the 2021 University of Texas Application Essays Part 1

My hook for this post is the University of Texas application for 2020-2021, but I am also going to take a look at reusing essays selectively in your other applications, which can save a lot of time and work. There are a couple of venues for applying to the University of Texas, and in discussing these I will introduce (briefly) and compare several important application portals used in Texas, but also nationally. Lesson one: to write a great University of Texas essay, you actually start by taking a look at the alternative of using either the Texas application site or the Coalition Application site.

Like the University of California, Texas runs its own college application portal . But in addition to the Coalition and UT/Apply Texas portals, the good news is that you can write a great University of Texas essay and turn around to reuse it for some of the 800-plus colleges using the Common Application portal, with little or no reediting–if you watch your word counts and choose your prompts wisely.

Different Application Portals: Apply Texas

Goal #1 for applying to college in 2020-2021 is to look for ways to reuse essays. Which brings us to those application portals.

Apply Texas is the foundation of all Texas applications, but universities determine which prompts to use. Assuming you are applying to the University of Texas, you could go directly to the UT website, which shows a single prompt fo the longer personal essay. This prompt is also up as the “A” prompt on the Apply Texas portal, and it is the Apply Texas system that handles all the data and that stands behind the various Texas public university applications–it’s a bit like the way the University of California is set up as a single portal, but there is more variation in the application requirements for Texas. Technical and state colleges are included in Apply Texas, whereas in California, the Cal State university system has a portal that is entirely separate from the University of California system.

For an example of how the Apply Texas requirements can vary from school to school, UT Austin requires a full set of the Texas application essays, including using option A for that longer essay and several shorter essays of about 250 words. In contrast, Texas Tech “strongly suggests” that you write at least one of the required essays but does not require it.

Of course, if you are a serious applicant to Texas Tech: write all of the essays. When offered the chance to do more, you want to do more. It demonstrates commitment.

And this year, in particular: if you did not take the SAT or ACT before the Covid rules came into play, or want to retake because your scores are below the mnidle 50%, but don’t end up getting one of the limited seats available before apps are submitted (or you just don’t want to risk your own or your family’s health for another test) you will want as much positive material for that holistic application evaluation as possible, to make up for missing data from standardized tests.

The Next Portal: The Coalition Application

Next portal: That longer essay prompt for UT Austin, which is Prompt A for Apply Texas is actually shared with the Coalition Application . “ Coalition ” is the short name for The Coalition for College Access .This might seem odd until you look at the UT Austin site, where it tells you that you can use the Coalition portal to apply, and skip the UT/Apply Texas portal.

To clarify: you only use one portal to apply–you will apply either through the UT portal, which is supported by Apply Texas or you will apply to UT through the Coalition App portal, which also allows you to apply to other schools listed on the Coalition portal, both inside and outside of Texas. So the Coalition is accepted by UT but is not limited to Texas schools. The question then, is whether it covers all or most of the colleges you want to apply to.

How to choose? See if all the colleges you want are among those listed on the Coalition App–if they are, you will save a lot of time by filling out all that basic data from name and personal information through activities only once, instead of using diferent sites and pasting in and tinkering with the same basic information, data and short responses over, and over. Using a more national portal like the Coalition Application offers efficiency. But the Coalition Application itself is not the biggest of the portals available.

A Comparison to the Common Application

A big drawback of the Coalition App is its relatively short list of participating colleges. The Coalition has 151 schools participating for 2020-2021. Compare this to the Common Application, which will be used by 884 universites . Sadly, the Common Application is not accepted by UT, among many others, but the Common App’s reach does make it a portal you are likely to use at some point this year.

To be very clear: though the Common Application is indeed the most commonly used app portal of all, its not an option for Texas public colleges (e.g. Texas Tech, UT Austin, et al). Outside of the University of California system, however, most of the big-name colleges that might come to mind do use the Common Application.

This is why you want to look at it now, and another reason: the Common Aplication essay prompts are up, so you can compare them, to the UT main essay. And there are other good schools in Texas among the Common App’s 800-plus clients, including Baylor, Rice, and TCU, not to mention those dozens of schools you have heard of and likely want to apply to outside of Texas.

So our focus on the Common App in this post is aimed at the possibility of reusing an essay on two or more portals.

Why You Should Look at Reusing Essays

The typical person applying to 10 colleges will generally use at least one main, longer essay of 550-650 words, and a series of supplementals. This means that you could easily write 20 essays for 10 apps–or 30. Most of these supplemental essays will be shorter than the 550-650 word main essays, but still–the more chance you have to reuse material, the more efficiently you can move through the work. And the workload, once school starts, can be quite extreme. With all the variables up in the air for this year, saving some labor on essays is a good idea.

I want to add before you go on to the rest of this post, and taking a look at the essay prompts, that there is one caveat–the various essay checking software programs, like Turnitin, will flag repeat uses of essays, and the use of such software is becoming more widespread–either through the adoption of Turnitin or other options, like in-house algorithms at some schools. Noting that it’s not really possible to plagiarize yourself, the focus here is on being sincere in your appeal to your target schools, and crafting the majority of supplemental essays carefully to suit your targets. But you need to balance this with the knowledge that, in the contemporary application scene, most students applying to selective and super selective colleges apply to ten or more universities, and they almost all reuse some degree of material. I will discuss fine tuning strategy on this in a later post.

Pay Attention to Word Count Limits in Essays

In addition to looking at the essay prompts, you should note that there are some differences in the word counts allowed–if you use the Coalition site, they suggest no more than 550 words; the Common Application allows no more than 650 words , and that is a firm limit; and for U Texas, I suggest 550 to no more than 650 words. (I’ve seen essays of up to 700 plus words accepted through the UT section of the Apply Texas application portal in the past, but suggest shooting for 550 as your max in your Texas main, which of course is the max word count suggested on the Coalition App.)

Many Application Essay Prompts Will Be The Same As Last Year

Whether they have reached perfection or just can’t get a revision done in this Covid-disrupted year, all three of the portals we have discussed will be using the essay prompts they had up last year. Please don’t take this as a green light to imitate your older sibling’s essays from last year, however–that essay scanning software I discussed is one reason. Being yourself and doing your own thing is another.

Let’s take a look at Texas first, then I will compare Texas prompt A to the current Common Application prompts to show you how to save a lot of work by reusing an essay or two–

2020 through Spring 2021: University of Texas Essay Prompt A

ApplyTexas Essay Prompt A

Guidelines for Essay Topic A—350-ca. 750 words, recommend aiming for 550 words.

Texas Essay Topic A (For U.S., applicants, as well as Transient, Readmit, and Transfer International applicants) : Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

This is the definition of a “personal” essay question , and it overlaps with a range of essay prompts required by other universities. It also overlaps with most of the Common Application prompts, depending on the angle you take–and when you can use one essay for two applications, that is a must-do opportunity. Just take a look at the Common Application prompts, which in the main define a more specific angle on the same broad prompt for how your experience has shaped who you are .

You just want to be sure your focus is on the last few years/high school, but keeping the focus on ongoing and recent experience is a rule of thumb in college essays anyhow–as opposed to writing about that deeply felt experience in elementary school. Generally skip those, unless they initiated or motivated activities that are still ongoing in high school, particularly if they continue today.

A Few Words About Social Justice Topics

One specific comment on topics at this point: Most college counselors advise against putting controversial, editorial-page topics at the center of college essays, but in my opinion, this year is different. Social justice, a perennial but undervalued subplot in American life, has come to the fore as the main focuses in recent months for most of you, for reasons I do not need to review here.

If you are genuinely engaged in the movement for equality and social change, this could be a good topic. Just be sure this is a real commitment for you personally, with some roots, as no doubt quite a few people will choose to write about this as the challenge or experience they faced, or the belief (system) they challenged in college essays in 2020-21. This is a challenging topic, and you need to avoid preaching to the converted (as well as the unconverted) and you really want to be wary of name calling and oversimplification, particularly of solutions. And of course, eschew cynicism. Click my tag for Social Justice at either the top of bottom of this post to see some other discussions of social justice topics over the years.

Now let’s take a look at how closely the Common Application overlaps with the focus of the Texas main essay.

Comparing the University of Texas and Common Application Essay Prompts

In addition to the quick comparison of prompts below, I have recently posted on how to brainstorm/start the Common Application Prompts for 2020-2021 . I have also looked compared the Common Application Prompts to the Coalition Application, here: Coalition App Versus Common App Essays.

Common Application Prompts for 2020/2021–compare these with the U Texas Essay A–

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. Note that you would put the majority of the focus on your high school experience, with some background or lead-in, and this prompt is a match for the UT application essay A.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? If your high school experience included a challenge or setback you had to overcome, bingo. Also a match for the Texas application essay, option A.

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? If this challenge occurred during your high school years, even it it did not happen on campus, just connect it the the person you are or have become and link it to some reference to your high school experience, and you are set.

4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. Notice that this offers you an opportunity to look at the past or the future. For UT you’d need to background the essay in the past, but then you could always turn from that past experiene to the future, to how your education will be shaped by this and what you plan to do with that education–which is a nice way to wrap up an essay–you never want to repeat or restate your introduction in the conclusoin of a college essay–that is formulaic writing, and frowned on. Not to mention that it does not fit in a pesonal essay format.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. This overlaps not only with some of the other Common Application prompts, it also matches UT’s prompt A, again if you focus on this occuring during your high school years.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? Again, if you discovered a passion in high school, or discuss one that grew during high school (usually academic, and tied to whatever you want to major in or focus on in college, for the best effect) , this also ties in well with the University of Texas essay.

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Since anything goes here, any Texas essay should also fit.

Contact Me for Editing and Essay Development

Texas has three additional, short essay responses required, and there is some variation in these (e.g. a prompt for Art and Architecture majors) and I will come back to these in the next week or two. Let me know if it was useful for you to look at comparing and reusing essays–I may look at the UT system short essays in comparison to those used by other systems if y’all hare enthusiastic about this approach. You can leave a comment, or if you are looking for essay development and essay editing, and you want the best, hands-on assistance, Contact Me . This link takes you to my business portal.

I do all the editing and coaching myself, so if you do want to create your best possible essays, contact me soon, while I still have some space available.

The Eyes of Texas

Oh, and of course, here is your bonus for this post, the University of Texas, fight song :

“The Eyes of Texas”

I once did know a president

A-way down South, in Texas.

And, always, everywhere he went,

He saw the Eyes of Texas.

The Eyes of Texas are upon you,

All the livelong day.

You cannot get away.

Do not think you can escape them

At night or early in the morn —

The Eyes of Texas are upon you

’Til Gabriel blows his horn.

Sing me a song of Prexy, *

Of days long since gone by.

Again I seek to greet him,

And hear his kind reply.

Smiles of gracious welcome

Before my memory rise,

Again I hear him say to me,

“Remember Texas’ Eyes.”

* “Prexy” refers to a President, particularly a college president, and dates back to the early 19th Century, so yes, it does predate UT Austin and in fact predates the state of Texas.

(To be sung at UT football games and after a few too many fermented beverages on sundry occasions. Of course, that won’t likely happen this year, but we can hope for the 2021 season, when you will likely be arriving on campus.)

How to Write the Princeton University Supplemental Essays for 2019-2020–Tips for Using Research, Finding Inspiration and Creating Winning Essays

This post covers how to write successful Princeton University Supplemental essays for the 2019-2020 application year. I include a review of the history of these prompts, the writing situation, and examples of strategies with links to key information for writing successful essays.

What is New for This Year in The Princeton Supplemental Essays ? Not Much–Princeton has put up the same prompts that they have been using for several years with no real changes.

Overview for Writing a Successful Princeton Supplemental Essay

The last time Princeton made a change in their essay prompts was in 2017, when they dumped their Woodrow Wilson, “Princeton in the Nation’s Service” speech as the focus for an essay.  Unfortunately, Wilson, former Princeton as well as U.S. president, has, or had some baggage.  He was a kind of walking paradox whom  some have described as a Progressive Racist–see here for more: Woodrow Wilson’s segregation policy.

The Wilson Speech essay was replaced by another speech essay, this one by Princeton professor Omar Wasow, who spoke about social and economic disparities, on the occasion of Martin Luther King’s Birthday. Replacing Wilson with Wasow was obvious response to student concerns, but more important for defining your writing situation, essay prompts define an ethos that the university wants to represent. In that sense, the spirit of service in the old Woodrow Wilson prompt lives on, here defined by a concern with inequality and racism–and presumably a desire to change things for the better, i.e. serving the community. More about that when we get to Prof. Wasow’s essay prompt, below.

Analysis of Princeton Supplemental Essay Prompts and Key Strategies

And now for the prompts themselves: read on for an annotated discussion and how-to advice for each of the Princeton Supplement options :

Princeton Prompt Option 1–Tell us about a person who has influenced you in a significant way.– 

I have discussed this topic at length in several other posts–the person of influence is a tried-and-true subject–so click here for much more detail on this topic:   Writing About a Personal Influence (part 1)  .

Princeton Prompt Option 2–“One of the great challenges of our time is that the disparities we face today have more complex causes and point less straightforwardly to solutions.” Omar Wasow, assistant professor of politics, Princeton University and co-founder of Blackplanet.com. 

This quote is taken from Professor Wasow’s January 2014 speech at the Martin Luther King Day celebration at Princeton University.   Does this mean you need to write an essay on race or race relations?  Not necessarily–it’s more advice about what I would call atmospherics–keep in mind that our country, which was supposedly post-racial during the Obama presidency, has rediscovered its problem with race as well as with economic inequality, and the disappearance of President Wilson from the prompts roster at Princeton is one sign of that.  You might want to have a look at Professor Wasow’s background and the speech that inspired this prompt, and to delve into the online community he started, Blackplanet , as you think about this one.

If you go with this topic, keep in mind the potential pitfalls of writing about disparities and problems of race and money– looking arrogant or paternalistic or simplistic or self righteous as you insert yourself into the problems of others.  So if you choose to write about culture or disparities, try to do so without looking like some kind of imperialist in a pith helmet.

Economic inequality has been a problem since, well, forever, but it snapped into sharp focus with the Great Recession as many more people fell out of the middle class and foreclosure was the first word that popped up when you typed in “real estate.”  Here we are a decade later, and though jobs are up and Wall Street is on a tear, inequalities have only grown(while the banks have grown bigger).  If you have an interest in these matters and already have something to say on the subject that will not sound too preachy, it can help to drop informed references to the ideas of experts and social critics.

For example, you can find interesting commentaries on many aspects of inequality in the U.S. of A, in Vance’s look at white, rural poverty in   Hillbilly Elegy or in Coates’ take on the effects of racism in Between the World and Me . 

Keep in mind that writing effectively about  topics like poverty and race pretty much demands a preexisting interest in things like politics and race, as well as sociology and economics, and that you should have done some reading outside of class–you know, current events, topical books like those I linked above, online discussions, TED talks, etc.  And while reading books like those I link can be useful, you are writing an essay about a personal concern here that happens to be social as well’ you are not writing a a book report or an essay for class. Personal experience is key.  Keep that in mind.  

The best personal statements have a personal connection, to your experience, interests, and moral sense–as well as to your past involvement.  So don’t suddenly become a civil rights advocate or advocate for the poor just in time to write this essay.  For some more guidance on how to write about a topic like this, my old post on the service essay for Princeton actually (and perhaps ironically) works well– click to the right and  scroll down to find the quote about not being a hand wringer, and read from there. 

Princeton Prompt Option 3–“Culture is what presents us with the kinds of valuable things that can fill a life. And insofar as we can recognize the value in those things and make them part of our lives, our lives are meaningful.”

–Gideon Rosen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy and chair,  Department of Philosophy, Princeton University.

This reads like some kind of tricky A.P. essay. Breaking it down, the important things are “things’ from “culture” that will make life meaningful. Let’s start with culture itself–

Culture gives everything from a world view to food to ideas about who should wear what on their head and when; it is a kind of agreement about what is real and how to act.  And like fish in water, we do not really understand our own culture until we live in another.  For many of you, this probably happens every day, as you go from one culture at home to another at school and with friends.  This essay is probably the easiest for those who have that kind of experience.  On the other hand, as our current president argued in a speech in Poland, there are a set of ideas that may loosely be described as Western–but I don’t think that the president’s speech actually reflected ideas like empiricism, openness to new ideas . . . free thinking . . . . which I consider hallmarks of Western Civ, at least as ideals for the last four hundred years.  

Not that our civilization lived up to those ideals, but still. Certainly the Western or European culture that arose in Rome and led to the Enlightenment created a set of important ideas, one of them being expressed in the clause, “We hold these truths to be self evident,  that all men are created equal . . . ”  Notice how that piece of paper in which the colonists declared independence is basically just a set of ideas. That’s what we are.  But back to the president’s speech:  you don’t have to argue for  a war of cultures to describe the influence and nature of your culture.  

But there is also the culture of your personal background and family, which include food, values, religion, et al. If you are really into philosophy, are a Competition Civics type or Lincoln-Douglas debater, you may be better primed than most to write about the broad idea of culture I defined in the paragraph above; if not, you might start at home, and consider your culture there. Or you could start with a thing in our culture that is important to you. For me, that would be a library. Check out this for some examples of great writing on libraries: 12 authors on libraries. For you, it might be a turntable and the history of hiphop tied to that. Make it personal and avoid preaching.

Princeton Prompt Option 4. Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation, title and author at the beginning of your essay.

Examples for Writing A Successful Princeton Supplement About Quotes

If you searched “Essays that start with a quote,” in addition to finding a number of college application essay books, you’ll also find web pages explaining how clichéd and terrible these essays are.  If you were cynical, you might draw the conclusion that this essay is a trap.  An optimist might argue that Princeton is trying to breathe life into a venerable style of essay.  My view is, it depends on what you do with it.  Anything which is treated witlessly can become a cliché.

The first thing to think about with this prompt:  starting with a quote can be hackneyed and the quote intro can also be used thoughtlessly or clumsily–for example, by jumping from the quote to a more-or-less unrelated idea in such a way that the quote is really an excuse to start an essay more than a true starting point.  

The idea is that the opening quote should be integrated into or lead naturally into the opening paragraph and so flow on through the rest of the essay.  It might be best to look at a few examples of folks who know how to work a quote into an essay–you might try reading some Montaigne , or for a modern idiom, you could try this link, to Paul Theroux’s  the Old Patagonian Express , and read pages 3-6, which don’t begin with a quote, but he soon uses multiple quotes and you can see a good example of quote and content being integrated there..  This three-page section of the book has been excerpted as an essay and gives a good example of thought and action as Theroux looks at himself in relation to others engaged in the same activity.

I also suggest that you visit the New York Review of Books, which always has an article which discusses a series of new or recent titles and puts them in perspective. Have a look at my posts on writing about books,  starting with this one , and you may find some useful passages for your purposes in this quote essay–be aware that the  NYRB  articles are meant largely to discuss books but many wander far afield in ways that may give you ideas on writing an essay tying your own life to what you have found in a book.

In the same vein, In the link here, you will find an  NYRB  discussion of  Michael Lewis’ Boomerang , an especially good book and article for those of you interested in the social and economic problems that led to Occupy, back in the day, and that in part also fueled our current political fire –it’s a good model for how to discuss a book both in relation to oneself and to the larger world, which is part of what they want from you in this prompt.  Of course, you should also be able to show yourself doing something beyond simply observing.  It would help, of course, if you were a participant in some sort of action, though the author shows his own ability to think and does act on his principles by reporting on the book and the world around us.

Here are two  more specific examples from Joan Didion; both are a factor of magnitude longer than the 500-word essay, but they still give you the flavor and an example of how to work with quotes.  Notice that some of Didion’s essays could be cut down to a three-paragraph excerpt and, with perhaps a sentence or two of more direct exposition, work as a short essay, like the one you want.

“Goodbye To All That”

“On Self Respect” , in which Didion quotes from herself to get things going. Cheeky!

For those of you writing the Princeton Engineering Essay, I will be posting on this very soon, so please come back to read my discussion of the Princeton Engineering prompt–you might as well write your supplemental first and then do the research that an engineering essay requires.

More Thoughts On The Problem Essay

Who should read this post:  anyone who needs to write about a social, environmental or just big problem. This post was originally written when the Common App asked that applicants write an essay about a problem they would like to solve–a question that is no longer on the Common App, but the advice here is still relevant, and so are some of the topics.  Read on for more, and for a link to the “beauty queen” trap that this essay contains.

The last couple of posts have dealt with strategy for Common App Prompt Two and have analyzed several topics in depth. I recommend that you have a look at them. I think of Prompt Two as the Big Problem prompt–though if you are involved in a local issue and well-versed in it, a “small” problem can be a brilliant choice.  I will address the local problem as a topic in my next post.

In this post, I will more briefly consider a number of additional topics which I have seen used recently to address Prompt Two.

Some global considerations for this prompt: first, remember that you are developing a form of argument which certainly includes an analysis of cause and effect and which should have a solution to the problem discussed. If you prefer narratives or don’t have an existing interest in and basic knowledge of a topic of local, national or international importance, move on to the other prompts. See my previous posts about other risks of this prompt, such as the  “beauty queen” trap .

Remember that the prompt is one thing, the topic you choose another. The number of topics possible for an argument addressing Prompt Two is as large as the number of problems in the world. This is as good a thing for an essayist as it is a bad thing for the world at large. Therefore, try to be sensitive–you are writing about something that may be a very real source of suffering for others.

Below is  a list of essay topics addressing this prompt which I have seen in the last year, along with questions and considerations for these topics; keep in mind that Prompt Two more than any other Common App prompt demands knowledge, the marshaling of empirical facts and, most likely, some time spent researching:

1. The problem of food shortages and famine

Hunger, like poverty, has always been with humanity. Keep that in mind. Any solution you come up with can improve things but don’t try to end world hunger forever in a 500 word essay. There are always complicating factors to consider. In recent years the U.S, one of countries which is an important grain exporter, has devoted more and more corn to fuel production. The policies and economics of this are complicating food production around the world.

In addition, many food experts say that we are leaving an era of surplus for one of shortages. Political and economic disruptions and, more importantly, weather–or changes in climate–in the last few  years have caused regional crop failures. Russia, another country which exports grain, last year suffered a record-setting heat wave and fires which caused it to curtail exports.This year the grain belt of the United States is suffering under its own record-setting heat wave, and as I write this, corn is set to pollinate in several states but the heat lingering this weekend will severely hinder this process and possibly decimate this year’s corn crop. Some agricultural areas of the U.S. are facing a drought as bad and long as that of the Dust Bowl Era.

In short, we face a period in which agriculture will have to adjust rapidly. Don’t naively assert that simply making distribution more “fair” or tweaking a few genes will make everything better.  Starvation-driven migration and political instability is likely to become more common in the near future and hunger itself could complicate the problem of feeding the hungry as it disrupts social structures and distribution networks.    Sorry to be a bummer, folks, but it’s just so–so you don’t want to oversimplify.

2. Renewable Energy

It isn’t easy being green. All human energy production has negative consequences–weighing alternatives is a matter of assessing costs and benefits. Wind turbines, for example, consume no fuel as they produce electricity, but they do kill thousands of birds a year in the large installation at the Altamont Pass area of California, which, as it turns out, was built on a major migration for raptors. Oops. That’s the point: think critically and research possible problems–unintended consequences are those we don’t foresee or take seriously enough.

Know about your topics and subtopics. Solar power takes different forms–primarily, it can be dispersed (on rooftops, for example) or centralized (like the large solar installation near Barstow, CA). Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, though both will require that our power grid be restructured. In addition, some sort of production must occur independent of sun and wind for times when they don’t produce energy.

Don’t forget that all technology requires resources–batteries, for example, are a way to store electricity for windless times and nighttime, but lithium batteries require . . . lithium, among other relatively rare or difficult to produce elements. Check up on its availability. How big is the supply of materials needed for alternative energy technology? Think big but look at the details. I recommend the book  Out of Gas   for its brilliant discussion of our current energy conundrum, including the physics of various alternatives and of our environment .  It is concise and brilliant.

3. Nuclear Energy Solves Our Problems

Tsunami in Japan. That’s what comes to mind, right? Up until a couple of years ago, nuclear was making a comeback as a Big Solution to Big Problems, but the toxic nature of nuclear fuel and the necessity to store waste for periods of time longer than human civilization has so far existed make nukes look a lot less attractive these days, especially  given the surprises that the universe has recently reminded us it can throw at us. Take Diablo Canyon, on the California coast, for example. It will be relicensed soon, having run through most of its originally planned life span, despite the fact that it lies within a few minutes drive–or sail–of multiple potentially dangerous earthquake faults, none of which you have ever heard of but any of which could damage this plant and the infrastucture around it. What, Mr. B, are you a no-nuker? Yes and no. What I am saying is that this is a difficult topic, at least for this year, unless you happen to be interested in nuclear physics or in engineering in the nuke field. This means that this could be an interesting challenge for you.   Maybe you even have some ideas for big changes or an idea that might crack the problem of cold nuclear fission. Great! Go for it. Do not be dismissive of those who disagree or fear this technology, though–they have a lot of evidence to justify their fears, at the moment.

4. Sovereign Debt, aka National Debt or Just Debt in General (Hello, Detroit)

A hot topic among the politically minded. In later posts, I will discuss the uses of analogies at more length, but I will point out some problems with tendency some have of comparing our national budget to a family budget .  The analogy makes the assumption that all families  do  balance their budgets every year.  Without even looking at whether the United States Government can be compared to a family, we can see that this analogy has problematic assumptions.  Many families in this country have had economic troubles lately, and many have used credit cards or borrowed money to get through the rough times as opposed to, say, automatically foreclosing on their house  because a breadwinner lost a job.

Looking at the other side of the analogy, what would a country with cap do if, or example, it were experiencing income problems like the family above and at the same time it were attacked by another country?  Should the country surrender instead of borrowing some money?       Unless you are very serious-minded, have studied this at length with someone who has  expertise (an excellent Gov or History teacher as well as a good Econ class would be advisable), and are committed to deep and nuanced thinking, stay away.

Find John Lanchester’s  IOU: Why Everyone Owes Everyone and No One Can Pay –reviewed in this link–if you want to read up on this.  Then again, maybe that would turn this into an intellectual experience essay. . .

5. Immigration

This is a favorite of the louder voices on both sides of the opinion pages and in both camps of the land of talking heads, which should already be a warning to you. Who  is  your college reader going to be, anyway? Do you know what the political outlook of this person is? Unless you are well-versed and can present a very balanced discussion which looks at not both but the many sides of this issue, Stay Away.

6. Terrorism and Extremism

Terrorist acts are a result of extremism and, as the news this week from Norway shows,  both of these phenomenon are universals–that is, they appear across cultures and historical periods.  Anarchists in the 19th and early 20th Century  committed terrorist acts and assassinations in the United States, across Europe and in Russia.  The September 11th attacks had precursors in the decades leading up to this century, including an attack by nominally Christian American, in Oklahoma City.  The use of violence and the threat of violence to spread fear is as ancient as agriculture and the causes of this in the modern world are many.  Read up and think long if you want to tackle this topic.   The Proud Tower , by Barbara Tuchman, discusses the Anarchist movement of the 19th and early 20th Centuries (among many other things);  The Looming Tower , by Lawrence Wright gives an excellent overview of so-called Islamic terrorism.  The content of these two books provide and interesting contrast between anarchy, an essentially areligious, even anti-religious movement which spawned terrorist acts and the ostensibly religious terrorism of Al Quaeda and groups like it.  Balance and a historical perspective are requirements for an attempt at an essay on this.

8. Social Justice Topics

Some of the topics above could fit under the umbrella of social justice, as could topics which I have discussed at length in earlier posts.   Social Justice  is a recently coined phrase–justice is clear, but the idea in  social  justice is  to create a more just society.  This requires action by organizations and governments.  Social Justice curriculums are becoming common in high schools and have been established for years in many universities.

You can write an essay on a “social justice” topic without using the term social justice.  In fact, I recommend doing this for a number of reasons, one of which is tha common topics many social justice classes share and the common answers these classes tend to propose to these problems.  You want to show original thought and writing; you do not want to regurgitate a packaged answer to a problem you studied in class.

I have also found that these essays too often read like homilies and  don’t show enough critical thought.  They often take the form of “if only  x  would be recognized, discussed, changed, then  y  would be resolved/solved and justice would reign.”

While it is more likely than not that a college essay reader would be sympathetic to a social justice argument, you need to do good research and show an understanding of  complexity and the  difficulty of change  in a social justice essay.  Too often essays on social justice problems offer simplistic solutions to complex issues, most often as a result of assuming that individuals and groups can easily change their thinking through education (becoming more enlightened, confronting history, etc) or through some sort of legislation.  Change is difficult and slow, particularly in cultural shifts and remedying poverty and inequality.  See the history of African Americans for more . . .

9. Pollution and Environmental Degradation

Many kinds, many reasons, and we are all part of the problem.  Think of this as like an original sin of which we are all guilty and you will avoid the Soapbox of Self-Righteousness.  I think of an essay I read long ago by Alice Walker in which she described communing with trees.  The essay represented humanity, and specifically industry and technology  destructive of nature.  In the essay,  Alice recounted an attempt to commune with the trees, to show them that she was not part of all that. She loved trees, she felt with them, she became one with them.

I had a strong negative reaction to this essay which was written by a person who has been responsible for the murder of more trees than any anti-environmentalist politician.  She is a writer, after all, with most of her career in an age when books were printed.  Not only that, I suspect she was a passenger in or drove a car to visit this grove of trees she describes in the essay.  I tossed the book across the room and didn’t read more for a long time.

While Alice is one of our major 20th Century writers and a great battler for the environment–and for redwood trees specifically–her essay struck me as naive and self-righteous.  It’s nice to be aware of the dignity and value of trees as a class and of individual trees you know, but we all use paper made from trees.  We all use transportation which was built using and which propels itself with  fossil fuels, even if we plug in our cars.   So beware of your own sense of righteous indignation if you choose this topic, and be aware that solutions to environmental problems are usually complex.  Climage Change seems to have finally fueled (pun intended) a movement and, as of this summer, you could even show some commitment to this by going to a rally or event.   Check out 350.org  if you have an interest . . .

10.  This is not a new topic, just a final thought:  you should care about the topic you choose.  Don’t suddenly decide you have an interest in justice,  hunger, environmental degradation, climate change, extremism, or any other of that devil’s alphabet of problems troubling our times.  If you read and keep up with such things and like analysis, this is a good prompt for you.  If not, move on to the others.  Good luck and Godspeed!

Home — Application Essay — Liberal Arts Schools — From Life Event to Social Justice

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From Life Event to Social Justice

  • University: University of San Francisco

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Published: Jul 18, 2018

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The University of San Francisco's commitment to academic excellence and social justice makes it the perfect choice for me as I pursue my passion for studying social sciences. My decision to study in this field was inspired by a life-changing event that led me to appreciate the impact of social and economic forces on individuals and communities.

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As a young teenager, my family experienced the devastating effects of the recession when both my parents lost their jobs. Our lives were uprooted as we were forced to move to a new city in search of employment opportunities. This experience allowed me to witness firsthand the way that poverty and unemployment affected not just my family, but many others in the community. It was during this time that I first became interested in social sciences, specifically the study of how broader social structures and institutions can have a profound impact on people's lives.

My undergraduate studies in sociology and anthropology further solidified my passion for social sciences. I was drawn to issues of social justice and inequality, particularly in the context of race and ethnicity. One of the most impactful experiences I had during my undergraduate studies was a service-learning project in a low-income community, which allowed me to apply my academic training to real-world issues and gain valuable skills in community organizing, leadership, and advocacy.

The University of San Francisco's Psychology department is the perfect choice for me because of its unique focus on community engagement and social justice. The department is committed to promoting social change through research and activism, which aligns perfectly with my own values. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to work with distinguished faculty members such as Dr. Maria Hernandez, whose research on the intersection of immigration, culture, and mental health is of great interest to me.

The university's commitment to diversity and inclusion is another reason why I have chosen to study at USF. I believe that USF's diverse student body and inclusive culture will provide me with a rich and fulfilling learning experience. The location of USF in the heart of San Francisco is also a major draw for me, as the city is known for its vibrant culture, progressive values, and innovative spirit.

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In conclusion, my personal journey to studying social sciences at the University of San Francisco has been shaped by a life-changing event and a deep commitment to social justice and equality. USF's unique focus on community engagement and social justice, along with its commitment to diversity and inclusion, make it the perfect environment for me to develop my skills and contribute to meaningful research and advocacy. I am excited to join the USF community of scholars and activists and to use my education and skills to effect positive change in the world.

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college essays about social justice

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Schools with Strong Programs in Social Justice

  • Post author By Dr. Elizabeth Doe Stone
  • Post date September 3, 2021
  • No Comments on Schools with Strong Programs in Social Justice

College Social Justice programs

For students who have devoted their time and energy to civic engagement and social justice action in high school, college is a great time to advance these skills and continue making an impact. Now, more than ever, there are opportunities to turn your advocacy into a career path by pursuing jobs at an NGO, as a community organizer, or in the political realm after graduation. Almost every college offers opportunities for community engagement in some capacity but, in recent years, some schools have also developed specific academic programs, majors, and minors to support students with a commitment to social activism, both in and out of the classroom.

SAMPLING OF SCHOOLS WITH STRONG SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS

To learn more about academic programs in social justice, check out these 10 schools:

Bucknell University

Bucknell’s interdisciplinary minor in Social Justice includes a core curriculum that introduces key concepts like oppression and privilege. Through a wide range of courses including “Environmental Injustice,” “Social and Political Philosophy,” and “Sex and Social Order,” students can explore the interconnected nature of social justice from a theoretical and practical perspective. Electives are divided into five categories: 1. Gender & Sexuality, 2. Race & Ethnicity, 3. Poverty, Inequality, & Class, 4. Environmental Justice, and 5. Law, Religion, & Human Rights. Bucknell also offers a Poverty Studies Concentration, which culminates with an internship offered through the Shepherd Consortium.

Brandeis University

At  Brandeis University , students can pursue a minor in social justice and social policy (SJSP) as part of an interdepartmental program that draws on faculty expertise from the School of Arts and Sciences and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. To complete the minor, students are required to do a “Social Justice, Social Policy Internship” and take core courses, including “Protest, Politics, and Change: Social Movements.” Recent internship placements include the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and the NAACP’s Washington Bureau. Students are also encouraged to focus on specific policy areas that affect a certain demographic (children, women, the elderly) or engage with a particular theme (health care, housing, etc.). As stated on the program’s website , the goal of the minor is to help students understand how to: 1. Rigorously engage with core questions of liberty, equality, and justice 2. Recognize and locate major philosophical, legal, and analytic conceptions of liberty, equality, and justice 3. Relate frameworks from multiple disciplines to pressing social, economic, philosophical, legal, and political issues and policies 4. Identify how policy approaches are shaped by and bear upon racial, gender, ethnic, religious, cultural, and political difference 5. Locate and classify the points of intersection between social values and practical policies.

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Smith College

Smith has a long reputation of being on the forefront when it comes to diversity, inclusion, and social justice—both through its course offerings and campus policies. Although there is no social justice major or minor offered, the Program for the Study of Women and Gender is one of the strongest such departments in the country and places a heavy emphasis on intersectional feminism and social justice. As stated on the department website, the program “examines gender, race, class and sexuality as important and simultaneous aspects of social worlds and human lives.” Courses include “Gender, Law and Policy,” “White Supremacy in the Age of Trump,” and “Collective Organizing.” Beyond the classroom, the Social Justice & Equity Committee is comprised of representatives who complete training to serve as educators, allies, and advocates for social justice issues on campus. They also educate their peers through programming and dialogue around issues such a privilege, oppression, and identity. 

Lake Forest College

The Social Justice minor at Lake Forest includes core courses such as “Social Justice and Human Rights,” “Identities, Rights, Social Justice,” and “Topics in Social Justice” in addition to a wide range of electives from different departments and programs such as African American Studies, Business, Chemistry, Communication, Economics, Religion, and Sociology. The department notes that, although “Social justice is often perceived as a ‘liberal’ notion…the issues transcend partisan political classifications. The Social Justice minor at Lake Forest College does not shrink from the serious, fundamental questions, e.g., of the tension between demands for individual liberty and the calls for social equity. We face the complicated tasks of comparing competing strategies and conclusions about how to achieve a better world. Our investigations and efforts will proceed in the Socratic method of encouraging conscientious dialogue among those with different beliefs, and with the Socratic goal of seeking the truth on matters of justice.  And we will recognize Socrates’ claim that we will never reach final answers. Our task is to continue the process, to do our best to determine what would constitute a better world and how to achieve it.”  Lake Forest also offers a number of off-campus social justice opportunities so students can engage in their communities. For instance, students who want to immerse themselves in Latin American culture can study and volunteer abroad in Chile while taking courses such as “Political and Social Change in Chile & Latin America,” “Globalization and Social Justice,” and “Latin American Gender Studies.”

Tufts University

At Tufts, the program in Civic Studies also offers a minor in Peace and Justice Studies . Interested students can take courses in the following five categories: Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (peace and justice), Thinking about Justice (political theory, philosophy, or social theory), Social Conflict and Violence (the historical, political, and social origins of conflict and violence), Civic Action and Social Movements (the historical, ethical, and social origins of organized movements for social change), and Civic Skills (civic practices like conflict-mediation, community-based research, and financing social enterprises).

George Washington University

George Washington University offers a unique Human Services and Social Justice major within the Columbia College of Arts and Sciences that combines psychology, education, counseling, and sociology to help students become leaders and professionals in nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and government and private agencies. Students may also pursue this program as a minor or combined degree (BA/MPA) in partnership with the Columbian College’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. Courses are combined with research and service-learning opportunities as students work to fight injustice, discrimination and poverty alongside nonprofits and government agencies in Washington, D.C.

Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University offers a Philosophy degree with a social justice track so that students can apply philosophical methods of analysis to real-world scenarios. Students who pursue this track often focus on one area of social justice, such as human rights, social responsibility, or environmental justice, based on their interests and then craft an interdisciplinary concentration around this theme. Courses include “Human Rights Across Cultures,” “Reasoning About Justice,” and “The Moral Basis of Politics.”

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University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill offers a minor in social and economic justice that aims to teach students how to engage with a range of topics including human rights; racial, ethnic, and gender equality; economic justice; democratic participation; sustainable development; diversity; and peace. Students who pursue this minor are prepared to work in advocacy roles after graduation, especially in nonprofit organizations, in local communities, or in governmental organizations. Courses are grouped into three categories: “Understanding Justice,” “Justice in Action,” and The Context of Justice.” These include classes like “Gender, Class, Race, and Mass Media,” “Hate Speech,” “Labor Economics,” “Medicine, Politics, and Justin,” and “Comparative Queer Politics.”  This minor also includes a mandatory service-learning component.

University of Connecticut

UConn’s minor in Social Justice Organizing provides students with practical skills in community organizing through a supervised internship to complement classroom instruction. Courses are organized into three categories: “Identities, Intersections, and Categories of Analysis,” State Structures and Systems of Inequality and Control,” and “Creative Social Justice, Equity and Freedom.” Students may explore a wide range of topics from “Refugees and Humanitarianism” to “Indigenous Rights and Aboriginal Australia.” During the required service-learning seminar, students work with local activists and UConn instructors to become more familiar with the theories and practice of community organizing, especially when it comes to immigration, environmental, reproductive, and racial justice.

Baylor University

In 2012, the Baylor Interdisciplinary Poverty Initiative introduced an interdisciplinary minor in  Poverty Studies and Social Justice .  Students must complete three required courses, plus 9 hours of electives as they learn about ways to effect social change and advocate for vulnerable populations. The required courses are “Introduction of the Economics of Poverty and Discrimination,” “Social Policy for Social Work Practice,” and “Foundations of Social Justice.” Students often pair this minor with a major in Social Work, Economics, Child and Family Studies, Political Science, or Psychology.

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Social justice essay

Socialjustice

UniversityAffiliation

Socialjustice implies a fair and just existence between an individual andthe society regarding wealth distribution and social privileges.Social injustice arises when people are not assured justice forexample when the unequal distribution of wealth occurs, andunfairness to individuals with different characteristics includingculture, race, religion, and gender takes place. The race is an issuepertaining social justice as people should be treated equally despitethe race they emanate from(Rowse, 2013).They should not be excluded from the community by being consideredminorities.

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Individualsencounter social injustices due to racial discrimination in manyways, for example, being fired at work due to a difference in one’srace. It can be seen when a former Hooters waitress got fired fromworking with Baltimore restaurant since Hooters forbidsAfrican-American Girls from wearing blond hair highlights. It isunjust since other women can wear the highlight but it was claimed itlooked unnatural on African-Americans. Such a situation can bereplaced with social justice by having Hooters improve its trainingto their managers on how to deal with employees through realizingthey should receive equal treatment(Rowse, 2013).To make this change, much awareness on social media and othercommunication platforms should be made clear to the people of Hootersthat in this, era people should not be segregated based on race.

Socialjustice regarding race failed to hold in April 1999 when a complaintwas filed against Coca-Cola Company by four African-Americanemployees, who represented 2200 other employees in a case whereCoca-Cola discriminated them in their pay, performance evaluation,and promotions. The African-American employees received 1/3 less thanthe whites regarding salaries. This situation would be replaced withsocial justice only by the management of Coca-Cola makingcomprehensive changes to its employee procedures and policies. Tomake the change, it took a panel of the plaintiff’s lawyers thatrevised the personnel policies(Rowse, 2013).It also acted as a watchdog to ensure the terms agreed upon wereimplemented.

Inconclusion, failure to uphold social justice leads to many problemslike racial discrimination in the society. Racism has detrimentaleffects on the victimized individuals, for example, theAfrican-Americans in the US who end up being fired from work, beingpaid less, work without promotions, and receiving poor performanceevaluations. The situation can be replaced with social justice bymaking the society aware through mass education that each person isequal. It requires overseers who will take note of any racialdiscriminations to implement the change.

Rowse,T. (2013).&nbsp Rethinkingsocial justice .Chicago: Aboriginal Studies Press.

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  1. 150 Social Justice Essay Topics & Examples

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    March 15, 2024. Words. 2292 (10 min read) Crafting essays on social justice empowers students to articulate their perspectives on the vast spectrum of challenges that confront our societies. It encourages a deep dive into the complexities of societal structures and the mechanisms of oppression and privilege that define our lived realities.

  3. 100 Words Essay on Social Justice

    250 Words Essay on Social Justice Understanding Social Justice. Social justice, a multifaceted concept, is the fair distribution of opportunities, privileges, and resources within a society. It encompasses dimensions like economic parity, gender equality, environmental justice, and human rights. The core of social justice is the belief that ...

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    Here are three questions to ask yourself to help you write a social justice essay. 1) How and when have I tried to be inclusive of others? Inclusion is an important element of working towards equitable social outcomes, whether it happens at a policy level, or at school with your peers. Have you made an effort to incorporate people from ...

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  6. Social Justice Essays

    Prompt Samples for Crafting a Social Justice Essay. Starting with the right prompt can set the tone for a powerful social justice essay. Prompts such as "Analyze the impact of systemic racism on education" or "Explore the role of social media in social justice movements" encourage critical thinking and provide a clear direction for your research and argumentation.

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  8. Social Justice and Human Rights

    Public justice is the fundamental principle of a peaceful and prosperous life in the country and between states. The principles of social equity are aimed at removing the barriers that arise in front of people due to various factors. It includes age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, and the presence of a disability (Marshal et al., 2020).

  9. 116 Social Justice Essay Topics

    This essay will look into the impact of social justice concepts in maintaining democracy in Australian society. Reconciliation, Australian Aborigines, and Social Justice. The objective of the paper is to discuss the relevance of the policy of reconciliation and relevance of the policy of reconciliation to social justice for Australian Aborigines.

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    Top 10 Social Justice Essay Topics. The importance of empathy in social justice movements. Addressing systemic racism. Challenging stereotypes and discrimination. LGBTQ+ rights, inclusivity, and acceptance. Economic justice and the wealth gap. Environmental justice and protecting vulnerable communities.

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    Student activism on and off college campuses has helped shape higher education for centuries. Following a year of increased student protests and demands for equality, we asked students to tell us more about the role social justice plays in their lives. In a new BestColleges survey of 750 currently enrolled undergraduate students, 58% of ...

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    Social justice is mutually a practice and a goal. The goal of social justice is complete and equal contribution by all people in a society that is equally designed to meet their needs. Social justice allows for all members of society to be physically and psychologically safe and secure. It is a set of values that allow us to understand what is ...

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    Long Essay on Social Justice 500 Words in English. Long Essay on Social Justice is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10. Social justice is an idea of reasonable or adjusted relations between the individual and society as estimated by the conveyance of abundance that incorporates individual action and social advantage openings.

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    Good Essay On John Rawls Theory Of Justice In Urban And Regional Planning. John Rawls' theory of justice is an anti-thesis to the Utilitarian concept of justice. In his 1921 book, 'A Theory of Justice' Rawls strongly rejects the idea that the happiness of the minority members of the society ought to be sacrificed at the altar of the ...

  15. Faculty Essay: What is social justice?

    They tended to describe social justice as addressing injustices in equality and promoting opportunity, rights, fairness and acceptance of everyone, including people from diverse backgrounds. Interestingly, there was a tremendous range of responses to our question. In addition to political activism, we identified many different categories of ...

  16. Social Justice Topics For Essays

    The phrase social justice may sound simple, but it covers a pretty diverse scope of issues affecting our society. These include religion, income equality, race, sexual orientation, and gender, among many others. Since these are issues we encounter every day, you will, on countless times in your student life, get assigned a social justice project.

  17. In Search of Social Justice: One Student's Path to a Ph.D

    The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic ...

  18. Social Justice Essay: Successful Admission Paper Sample

    Finally, I have tried, through my academic work, to complement action with reflection. College courses enabled me to begin grappling with broad theoretical questions of social justice, political morality, and jurisprudence. My current graduate course work in political theory is an effort to enhance my capacity to sort through these issues.

  19. Social Justice Essay Archives

    Social Justice is a recently coined phrase-justice is clear, but the idea in social justice is to create a more just society. This requires action by organizations and governments. Social Justice curriculums are becoming common in high schools and have been established for years in many universities.

  20. From Life Event to Social Justice [Admission Essay Example]

    In conclusion, my personal journey to studying social sciences at the University of San Francisco has been shaped by a life-changing event and a deep commitment to social justice and equality. USF's unique focus on community engagement and social justice, along with its commitment to diversity and inclusion, make it the perfect environment for ...

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    Almost every college student these days gets to work with various social issue essays that may range from domestic violence and bullying to workplace conflicts and issues like college debts. Therefore, choosing an issue, you can explore a broad range of subjects as long as there is a problem and more than one opinion involved.

  22. Schools with Strong Programs in Social Justice

    Electives are divided into five categories: 1. Gender & Sexuality, 2. Race & Ethnicity, 3. Poverty, Inequality, & Class, 4. Environmental Justice, and 5. Law, Religion, & Human Rights. Bucknell also offers a Poverty Studies Concentration, which culminates with an internship offered through the Shepherd Consortium.

  23. Social justice essay Essay

    Social justice essay. Socialjustice. UniversityAffiliation. Socialjustice implies a fair and just existence between an individual andthe society regarding wealth distribution and social privileges.Social injustice arises when people are not assured justice forexample when the unequal distribution of wealth occurs, andunfairness to individuals ...

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