Social Justice Advocacy Research Articles

Pope Francis as Moral Leader: Ethicist, Discerner, Communicator, and Advocate for Social Justice, by Thomas Massaro, SJ

Pope Francis as Moral Leader: Ethicist, Discerner, Communicator, and Advocate for Social Justice, by Thomas Massaro, SJ

Social Justice Advocacy in the Classroom Through Service-Learning in Public Relations: Welcoming Students With Legal Refugee Status

Social Justice Advocacy in the Classroom Through Service-Learning in Public Relations: Welcoming Students With Legal Refugee Status

Organizational Socialization in Professional Sport: The National Basketball Association’s Rookie Transition Program

Launched in 1986, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Rookie Transition Program (RTP) is the longest running program of its kind in U.S. professional sports. Jointly administered by the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, the RTP is designed to ease the transition of first-year players to the league. Over the course of 4 days, RTP participants engage with current and former NBA players, coaches, administrators, and other league stakeholders on topics that range from personal finance, to mental health, to social justice advocacy. Organizational scholars might describe the NBA RTP as an element of the league’s onboarding, or organizational socialization, strategy. In this case, students will reflect on their own socialization experiences as organizational newcomers before analyzing the components of the NBA RTP. Finally, students will apply what they learn through this case to design the agenda of a future NBA RTP.

Human Rights-Based Conservation: The Integral Role of Human Rights Director in the Conservation Sector

Historically, many conservation organizations operated without a dedicated focus on human rights, lacking a systematic approach to ensure compliance with global human rights standards. This oversight led to practices that inadvertently disregarded fundamental human rights principles. Recognizing the pivotal role of communities and Indigenous rights in resource management, there has been a paradigm shift. Conservation organizations now acknowledge the need for a Human Rights Director, a role catalysing a community-centric approach and aligning initiatives with human rights principles. While this shift is in its early stages, it signifies a crucial step towards more responsible and sustainable conservation practices. The Human Rights Director, often underestimated, plays a vital role in navigating the delicate balance between biodiversity conservation and community well-being. This paper explores the responsibilities, challenges, and impact of individuals in this position, emphasizing their role as stewards of ethical practices and advocates for social justice. Through a comprehensive review, case studies and best practices, the paper sheds light on the intricate intersections of human rights and conservation. It underscores the indispensable contributions of Human Rights Directors and their teams to conscientious and sustainable conservation strategies. The discussion contributes to the broader discourse on the synergies between human rights advocacy and effective conservation, emphasizing the imperative for organizations to prioritize the creation of a Human Rights unit. This unit can empower teams to achieve socially responsible conservation outcomes, marking a transformative journey towards ethical conservation practices.

An assessment‐based approach to understanding intersectional privilege

AbstractAwareness of intersectional privilege is a theme woven throughout the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC). However, a paucity of resources exists to guide counselor educators and supervisors in helping counselors‐in‐training (CITs) examine personal positions of privilege embedded within the MSJCC framework. The Intersectional Privilege Screening Inventory (IPSI) is among the first instruments yielding psychometrically valid scores to assess intersectional privilege as a training tool for CITs. We urge counselor educators and supervisors to employ the IPSI to facilitate CIT growth and development in multicultural and social justice counseling. A brief review of the literature on intersectionality, privilege, and intersectional privilege is presented as a foundational context for the broader discussion of the IPSI. We then describe a conceptual approach for using the IPSI in CIT training and development followed by case examples highlighting the IPSI's utility. We conclude with implications for counselor education and supervision.

Social Determinants of Health in Graduate Nursing Simulation Education: An Integrative Review.

This integrative review examined how simulation is being used to teach graduate nursing students about the social determinants of health (SDH). The literature search focused on studies that included a sample of graduate nursing students who participated in an SDH simulation-based education (SBE). The timeframe used was 2013 to 2023 as this is when SBE emerged in graduate nursing education. Databases searched included Academic Search Complete, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, and Web of Science. Nine studies included a sample of graduate nursing students and were included in this review. Published studies ranged from 2013 to 2023. The findings of this review highlight the need for graduate nursing faculty to design, implement, and evaluate transformative SDH-specific SBE that prepares students to understand their role as social justice advocates for health equity.

Social work and social justice advocacy: a survey of BSW students’ attitudes and perceptions

ABSTRACT Over the last century, the social work profession has gained acceptance and recognition as a primary provider of mental health treatment services in the U.S. Many within the profession have voiced concerns that such recognition came at the cost of social work’s dedication to macro-level advocacy and activism. Nonetheless, research indicates that the majority of social work professionals identify social justice advocacy as integral to their identities and viewed as obligatory. However, little is known about the attitudes and beliefs of current social work students regarding the fit and function of social justice advocacy, insight that could prove helpful in planning for the social work profession’s future among the helping professions. The present study surveyed undergraduate social work students currently enrolled in one of five CSWE-accredited programs in Western New York State regarding their views of social justice advocacy and anticipated involvement in such advocacy once they enter the field. Participants indicated a strong belief in the value of social justice advocacy and expectation that they will engage in such activities as professional social workers, though they lack confidence and feel somewhat ill-prepared for doing so. Implications for social work curricula and education are discussed.

At home in Harlem: The politics of domesticity in Faith Ringgold's The Bitter Nest

The Bitter Nest, a sequence of five large-scale story quilts created in 1988 by Faith Ringgold (American, b. 1930), probes the dynamics of an imagined Black middle-class family, their home in Harlem, and the connections they forge within it. Originally conceived as a performance piece, the quilted series likewise expands on its themes of home, family, mother-daughter relations, and Black female creativity. Bringing together storytelling and quilting traditions prominent in the artist's family, the African American community, and across the African diaspora, The Bitter Nest extends the concept of home to encompass Harlem itself, connecting its residents and neighbourhoods across multiple generations. Celebrated as a visual artist, author, educator, and lifelong advocate for social justice, Faith Ringgold, is among the most influential cultural figures of her generation. While major exhibitions showcasing the scope of her achievements have recently generated a welcome outpouring of new scholarship, The Bitter Nest remains surprisingly overlooked in literature on the artist. In examining the series' representation of the politics of domesticity, home, and family, this article aims to remedy this oversight as it expands the scope of critical discourse on the work of a major American artist, and directs renewed attention to Ringgold's powerful reimagining of the Black home and family in this series and throughout her oeuvre. Drawing on the artist's commentary on The Bitter Nest and related topics, the visual evidence of the quilts, and late twentieth-century and more recent feminist theory, this essay provides a foundation for further research into The Bitter Nest and its many contributions to the evolving story of Black women and families in America.

The influence of professional identity and social justice training on counseling trainees’ social justice advocacy

ABSTRACT Understanding counseling trainees’ social justice advocacy development is important because it is one of the primary competencies that need to be developed through professional training, which contributes to the wellness of socioeconomically and culturally diverse clients. This study investigated the influence of professional identity and social justice training experience on counseling trainees’ social justice advocacy. Implications to promote counseling trainees’ social justice advocacy competencies through counselor education training and research are provided.

Multicultural and social justice competencies for school stakeholders: a Delphi study

ABSTRACT Multicultural and social justice competence is an expectation for school counselors. School counselors need to be proficient in providing multiculturally competent practices and social justice advocacy action. The same can be said for their school stakeholder counterparts, yet no empirical investigations explore how the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC), specifically its institutional interventions, can serve as a framework for all school stakeholders to provide multiculturally competent practices and social justice advocacy action in schools. We conducted a Delphi study with expert school stakeholders as participants, including school counselors, that resulted in a consensus list of opinions regarding initial perceptions, usefulness, willingness, supports, barriers and reflections of the MSJCC, specifically the institutional interventions. We provide emergent implications for school counselors and other educational stakeholders.

“Effective social justice advocacy: a theory of change framework for assessing progress” – reflections on the terrain since its publication in 2011

“Effective social justice advocacy: a theory of change framework for assessing progress” – reflections on the terrain since its publication in 2011

Martin Buber and Social Justice

Martin Buber’s seminal work is his “I and Thou”. In I and Thou, Buber establishes a philosophical foundation for the creation of a dialogical society. Buber’s concept of I–Thou dialogue provides a framework for understanding the inherent connection between interpersonal encounters and social justice. As Buber elucidates, genuine dialogue is not confined to the encounter between two persons, but it manifests in the manner of a society organized on premises of social justice, freedom and compassion. In this regard, it is important to note that if we trace Buber’s personal and philosophical biography we will not find many instances of him engaging in what could be called social justice activism. Buber did found and join civic organizations that dealt with issues of peace and justice, and lent his support to many such political endeavors (see the organizations called Brith Shalom (Covenant of Peace) founded in 1925 in mandatory Palestine, and Ihud (Unity) founded in 1942, six years before Israel’s statehood). Nonetheless, a number of world prominent social justice advocates and activists found inspiration and guidance in Buber’s philosophy, and it is perhaps hereby, where Buber’s impact on social justice is most distinctly pronounced. What Buber aimed to achieve in his writings and political endeavors was to present a philosophy of relationships on which to found a society established on practices of social justice.

Superintendents as social justice advocates for African American female students in STEM

ABSTRACT Although the Obama-Biden administration recognized and the Biden-Harris administration continues to emphasize the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including medicine, for the nation’s continuing prosperity, the United States produces significantly fewer STEM graduates than other countries. To make up the difference, the United States relies on foreign STEM workers. For a variety of reasons, it would be better to produce STEM professionals domestically. One approach to narrow or eliminate the gap between the number of STEM workers the United States needs and the number of graduates in STEM fields is to attract and maintain more women of color in STEM careers. Fulfilling this vision requires superintendents who view getting more African-American female students interested in STEM as both an economic and social justice issue.

Exploring the Intersections of Community and Cross-Cultural Psychology: Enhancing Well-being and Understanding Diversity

This abstract delves into the dynamic interplay between community psychology and cross-cultural psychology, highlighting their roles in promoting psychological well-being, addressing social issues, and fostering a deeper understanding of cultural diversity. Community psychology focuses on the reciprocal relationship between individuals and their communities, emphasizing the importance of context in shaping human behavior and well-being. By employing an ecological perspective, community psychologists strive to empower communities, prevent social problems, and advocate for social justice. This approach recognizes the impact of various factors, including economic disparities, social support networks, and neighborhood environments, on individual psychological experiences. Cross-cultural psychology, on the other hand, investigates the intricate connections between culture and psychology. It seeks to uncover both universal and culturally specific aspects of human behavior, cognition, and emotion. By comparing psychological phenomena across cultures, cross-cultural psychologists illuminate the diverse ways in which cultural norms, values, and traditions influence individuals’ thoughts and actions. This field plays a crucial role in challenging ethnocentric biases and enriching our understanding of the human experience. The abstract highlights the convergence of these two fields, emphasizing how they mutually enrich one another. Community psychology benefits from the insights of cross-cultural psychology by recognizing the importance of cultural context in community dynamics and interventions. Cross-cultural psychology gains depth by integrating the community perspective, recognizing that culture is not solely an individual attribute, but a collective phenomenon shaped by the communities in which people reside. Through collaborative research, interventions, and advocacy efforts, these fields contribute to building more inclusive and equitable societies. By acknowledging the importance of community and cultural influences on psychological well-being, researchers and practitioners can better address societal challenges, bridge gaps in mental health care, and create interventions that are sensitive to the diverse needs of individuals from various backgrounds. In conclusion, the synergy between community psychology and cross-cultural psychology holds great potential for advancing our understanding of human behavior and well-being within the contexts of communities and cultural diversity. This abstract encourages continued exploration and integration of these fields to create meaningful impact and positive change in diverse societies around the world.

Factors related to social justice advocacy among play therapists.

Factors related to social justice advocacy among play therapists.

키워드 네트워크 분석을 통한 사회정의 상담 연구 동향

The purpose of this study is to examine the research trends related to social justice counseling using keyword network analysis and provide implications for future research directions. A total of 25 papers published in domestic academic journals from 2015 to 2022 were analyzed using Textom and UCINET for frequency analysis and network visualization of keywords. The results of this study are as follows: First, papers related to social justice counseling were published in a total of 11 academic journals over a period of approximately 7 years, with 20 studies (80%) conducted with counselors as the subjects. Second, the frequency of occurrence of keywords was observed in the following order: ‘social justice’, ‘multiculturalism’, ‘research’, ‘counselors’, ‘advocacy’, and ‘social justice counseling’. Third, the co-occurrence frequency of keywords appeared in the following order: ‘multiculturalism-social justice counseling’, ‘social justice counseling-supervision’, ‘social justice-advocacy competence’, and ‘social justice-interest’. Fourth, the degree centrality of keywords was highest for ‘research’, ‘social justice’, and ‘multiculturalism’ following a similar order to the rankings of frequency of occurrence. The keywords with high TF-IDF indices were ‘supervision’, ‘multiculturalism’, ‘items’, and ‘counseling competence’. Fifth, the CONCOR analysis resulted in the classification of keywords into seven clusters, which were named as follows: ‘research on social justice’, ‘counselor’s experiences’, ‘counselor’s competency’, ‘application of counseling’, ‘scale development’, ‘programs’ and ‘adolescent’. The findings of this study provide foundational data for research related to social justice counseling and contribute to facilitating discussions on the application of social justice counseling.

Towards a Decolonization of Counseling

The racist violence that occurred during the summer of 2020 was a tipping point forcing many people and institutions to acknowledge and address racial inequities in the United States. As the “conscience” of ACA, Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) responded to this crisis through immediate action and strategic planning. This article discusses the process used by CSJ leaders to meet the CSJ mission of “promoting social justice…through confronting oppressive systems of power and privilege that affect professional counselors and our clients and to assist in the positive change in our society through the professional development of counselors” during this critical time. Recommendations for moving toward a decolonization of counseling practice, supervision, education, and research also are provided.

Social justice attitudes and behavioural intentions of NCAA student-athletes: the role of life skills

ABSTRACT Within the United States of America alone, athletes - and particularly professional athletes - have long been utilising their unique positionality as a platform to advocate for social justice and to be actively engaged activists for social change. While social justice advocacy and activism are increasingly seen within professional sports, engagement in such efforts has been more limited among collegiate student-athletes. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine how life skills moderate the relationship between attitudes and behavioural intentions pertaining to social justice among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes. A sample of 218 Division I NCAA student-athletes completed an online survey that assessed their perceived life skills learned in sport, social justice attitudes, and social justice behavioural intentions. The analytical approach included a series of moderation analyses testing the moderation effect of each life skill on the relationship between social justice attitudes and behavioural intentions. Emotional skills, interpersonal communication, and social skills each significantly and positively moderated the relationship between student-athletes' social justice attitudes and social justice behavioural intentions. However, problem-solving and decision-making, goal-setting, time-management, teamwork, and leadership skills had non-significant interaction effects. The results suggest that life skills, especially interpersonal skills beneficial to social interactions, can be assets for student-athletes as they consider progressing towards social justice action. Efforts should also be put forward to better comprehend the role of coaches using an implicit and/or explicit approach to life skills and its impact on their social justice awareness and behaviour intention.

Rethinking Language Barriers & Social Justice from a Raciolinguistic Perspective

Abstract The trope of language barriers and the toppling thereof is widely resonant as a reference point for societal progress. Central to this trope is a misleading debate between advocates of linguistic assimilation and pluralism, both sides of which deceptively normalize dominant power structures by approaching language as an isolated site of remediation. In this essay, we invite a reconsideration of how particular populations and language practices are persistently marked, surveilled, and managed. We show how perceptions of linguistic diversity become sites for the reproduction of marginalization and exclusion, as well as how advocacy for language and social justice must move beyond celebrating linguistic diversity or remediating it. We argue that by interrogating the colonial and imperial underpinnings of widespread ideas about linguistic diversity, we can connect linguistic advocacy to broader political struggles. We suggest that language and social justice efforts must link affirmations of linguistic diversity to demands for the creation of societal structures that sustain collective well-being.

Illegible Representations, Collaborative Protests

In this paper, members of COLLECTIVE reflect on the show Illegible and the specific performance for Mr. Olango’s family. Using an auto-ethnographic approach, this paper explores the role of artists in transforming critical scholarship and social protests into social justice advocacy, particularly around issues of representation, inequality, systemic racism, and police violence as experienced by Black men. In exploring the creative processes and impact of this performance, Illegible offers lyrics, movement, and music as representative of distinct and collaborative protests against anti-Black racism.