'Justice' is a social principle that guides the individuals about righteousness and wrongness of their actions. It entails a fair treatment in punishing the 'wrong' as well as protecting the 'right'. By giving to each the share which he/she is due, the concept of justice aims to elevate human dignity and sovereignty.
Social justice refers to the justness of society in terms of opportunities, wealth, and privileges. It is a broad term that encompasses valuing the diversity, challenging the inequality, and ending the social prejudices. A just society ensures that people are not discriminated against by their personal characteristics or group membership. Social institutions are justly defined, and they assure the equal access to rights, liberties, ad opportunities while protecting the benefits of the socially disadvantaged group of the society.
Economic justice guides the moral principles of economic institutions that determine the earnings of individuals, the way of exchanging goods and services, and entering into economic contracts. Being a component of social justice, economic justice aims to create sufficient opportunities for each and every person to have a dignified, creative, and productive life. The system of progressive taxation in society is an example of economic justice. Taxes increase as base amount increase; thus, they reduce income inequalities while imparting funds for education, public infrastructure, and education.
I am a supporter of social change and discard the archaic voodoo rules that do nothing else than disturbing human minds and social patterns. For instance, I like being friends with people from different nations and cultural backgrounds. My involvement with cross-cultural societies indicates my fondness to embracing diversity. I am an open-minded person who wants to learn from others and see people beyond their belongingness to a specific race, religion, and culture.
Furthermore, I have heard about how social and community workers can make a difference in the lives of disenfranchised population. They can well connect these people to social service systems by imparting proper guidance and accessibility. Having come to know about these services, I want to contribute in that by enhancing the access of medical and social services. My long-term purpose is to help these people get their due share in life.
I feel that injustice prevails in the society because people are not aware of their rights and the means of combating the injustice. It is the duty of professionals to identify the gray areas and to address the grievances of these people. Proper treatment and guidance in certain aspects can duly help the underprivileged sections to bring their issues to the forefront and get a solution of these.
While I feel that my desires in promoting social justice individually have been great, they will be restrained unless I pursue social work as an educational goal. My pursuits have further been strengthened by the opportunities this college provides in comprehending the intricacies of social work and the complexities involved thereof.
Another important reason for selecting justice as a career is the penchant for contributing something positive for the society. Inequalities are enormous; there are lots of underprivileged children, women suffering from discriminatory behavior, and differently-abled kids struggling to get their share in the society. It is my desire and a sincere wish to help them all as maximum as possible. Apparently, becoming a professional in this field will add more feathers and enhance the aplomb.
Choosing a career is not easy, and it should not be just based on the personal desire. Fortunately, my personal desire and professional excellence is likely to get fostered if I get admitted to a college/university that not only provides the theoretical education but also imparts a hands-on in the field work.
Again, it is not only the personal wish to become a social worker; the society needs social workers with professional education to ameliorate the condition and end various prejudices existing in our society. I could have thought of doing social work without making it my occupation, but a formal education in this field will enhance the scope of my working areas as well as my forte in handling difficult conditions.
Apparently, good educational opportunities in the College has shaped my decision to get a formal education in the social work. Genuine interest in this field and time-to-time involvements in school and community program are a plus. I sincerely feel that I can contribute positively to the society if provided with right opportunities at the right time.
Social welfare and social change, to me, means empowering the millions who are at the base of the pyramid, struggling for basic needs and the dignity of their lives. Given the appalling statistics of the crime against particular races, apartheid, casteism, violence against women, human trafficking, and the deplorable condition of the poor in general, nothing but social work comes in my mind whenever I mull over my career five years down the line.
Works Cited
Austin, Michael A. Social Justice and Social Work: Rediscovering a Core Value of the Profession. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2013.
Zastrow, Charles. Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare: Empowering People. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2009.
