Support For Social Justice Research Articles

Supporting Social Justice Advocacy: A Paradigm Shift towards an Ecological Perspective

The entrenched intrapsychic perspective that currently dominates the counseling professions does not philosophically support social justice advocacy. Because an intrapsychic approach to counseling focuses almost exclusively on change at the individual level, interventions to change an oppressive environment are routinely ignored. Thus, this manuscript presents the argument that a paradigm shift towards an ecological perspective, one that recognizes human behavior as a function of person-environment interaction, is necessary to provide practitioners a clear rationale to engage in social justice advocacy in counseling.

Mining for justice in the food system: perceptions, practices, and possibilities

Despite much popular interest in food issues, there remains a lack of social justice in the American agrifood system, as evidenced by prevalent hunger and obesity in low-income populations and exploitation of farmworkers. While many consumers and alternative agrifood organizations express interest in and support social justice goals, the incorporation of these goals into on-the-ground alternatives is often tenuous. Academics have an important role in calling out social justice issues and developing the critical thinking skills that can redress inequality in the agrifood system. Academics can challenge ideological categories of inquiry and problem definition, include justice factors in defining research problems, and develop participatory, problem-solving research within social justice movements. In addition, scholars can educate students about the power of epistemologies, discourse, and ideology, thereby expanding the limits and boundaries of what is possible in transforming the agrifood system. In these ways, the academy can be a key player in the creation of a diverse agrifood movement that embraces the discourse of social justice.

The Paradoxes of Teaching a Multicultural Education Course Online

The author shares her pedagogy in taking a conventional, campus-based graduate course, transforming it for asynchronous learning and teaching it over the World Wide Web. Some paradoxes resulted as the course changed from face-to-face to online interaction. First, the teachers were more open, frank, expansive, curious, even confessional in their willingness to share and discuss prickly issues such as White privilege, racism, educational inequities, injustice, and xenophobia than teachers have been in the campus version of the course. Second, the interaction patterns online were more equitable and cross-cultural than those in the campus version. However, many teachers questioned whether the course’s reliance on electronic technologies prevented them from “knowing the other.” Some perceived that they had to physically interact with people face to face to develop relationships across cultures—relationships that some teachers said were prerequisite to their rethinking how their own teaching could better support diversity and social justice.

Motivating People from Privileged Groups to Support Social Justice

One of the more challenging aspects of multicultural education is engaging people from dominant social groups (e.g., men, whites, heterosexuals) in promoting equity. This article presents a theoretical perspective for understanding what may motivate people from privileged groups to support diversity and social justice. The three main sources of motivation discussed are empathy, moral and spiritual values, and self-interest. The complexities and limitations of each are considered. A model is also proposed that broadens the conception of self-interest. Educational strategies are suggested to address these different sources of motivation. By better understanding what motivates someone to support diversity and equity, educators can more intentionally choose approaches that will engage individuals, and thus more effectively promote personal and institutional change.

Motivating People from Privileged Groups to Support Social Justice

One of the more challenging aspects of multicultural education is engaging people from dominant social groups (e.g., men, whites, heterosexuals) in promoting equity. This article presents a theoretical perspective for understanding what may motivate people from privileged groups to support diversity and social justice. The three main sources of motivation discussed are empathy, moral and spiritual values, and self-interest. The complexities and limitations of each are considered. A model is also proposed that broadens the conception of self-interest. Educational strategies are suggested to address these different sources of motivation. By better understanding what motivates someone to support diversity and equity, educators can more intentionally choose approaches that will engage individuals, and thus more effectively promote personal and institutional change.