Social Justice Theory and Practice: Fostering Inclusion in Exclusionary Contexts

Author(s):  
Susan Opotow

This chapter, focused on the meaning and dynamics of social justice and injustice, describes theory and the lived experience of injustice. Its first section defines social justice, social injustice, and three psychological justice models—distributive, procedural, and exclusionary/inclusionary. The second section applies these models to environmental injustice, a complex, pressing social issue in which acute and chronic exposure to toxic pollution has become concentrated in marginalized communities. This example clarifies that the scope of justice, however wide or narrow, is a defining framework that is then operationalized by distributive and procedural justice in societal structures and in everyday life. The final section discusses collaborative efforts to widen the scope of justice and the difficulties of fostering social justice in contexts characterized by power inequalities and a culture of moral exclusion.

2021 ◽  
pp. 234763112110477
Author(s):  
Monika Maini

The incidences of suicides by students from marginalized communities at Indian public universities indicate that the structural reforms have been insufficient in bringing social justice at universities and the situation demands a change in cognitive structures and processes that can mobilize shift towards just relations at the universities. This article aims to reflect upon pedagogy of consciousness developed by Paulo Freire and argue for its adoption by teachers to develop student voice that has the potential to bring social justice from within the universities. Following the interpretivist paradigm, the idea of the university given by Kant is explored to locate student voice and social justice within the framework of universities. The idea though places voice at core of university teaching learning process, limits its democratic potential by assuming apolitical role of the universities. Therefore, the author elaborates upon pedagogy of consciousness by Paulo Freire, to bring out its relevance in developing voice for social justice and rethinking the idea of the university. Through the analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with teachers and students at University of Delhi, the voices of students citing incidences of structural as well as epistemic injustice in the University are highlighted to develop the link between theory and practice. These voices point towards lack of spaces for expression of dissenting voices and understanding of these voices by teachers and students from privileged backgrounds. The article concludes with illustrating, how pedagogy of consciousness can develop this consciousness enabling praxis of transformation that brings political dissenting voices to the core of the idea of the university in democracy.


Author(s):  
Daniela Tavares Gontijo ◽  
Maria Eliete Santiago

A Terapia Ocupacional caracteriza-se pela multiplicidade de saberes e práticas direcionadas para a construção da autonomia que são direcionadas por diferentes referenciais teórico-metodológicos. Na atualidade, especialmente no contexto latino-americano, observa-se a ampliação das discussões sobre perspectivas críticas na Terapia Ocupacional, que apesar de sua pluralidade, de uma forma geral, dialogam com as obras de Paulo Freire. Este editorial tem como objetivo refletir sobre possíveis contribuições da Pedagogia Paulo Freire para a construção de práticas direcionadas à autonomia no contexto da Terapia Ocupacional.  O referencial de Paulo Freire pode subsidiar intervenções da Terapia Ocupacional que tenham como horizonte a humanização e a justiça social. Compreendendo as ocupações como expressão e formas de ação no mundo, pautar a Terapia Ocupacional na obra freireana implica na defesa de que estas sejam promotoras do “ser mais” dos seres humanos no processo de transformação de si e do mundo. Transformações que implicam e se concretizam no/pelo exercício da autonomia e que se potencializam na assunção de posturas críticas na realidade vivenciada. Nesta perspectiva, defendemos uma terapia ocupacional dialógica, fundamentada na amorosidade, humildade, fé nos seres humanos, esperança e pensar crítico. O encontro da Terapia Ocupacional com a Pedagogia de Paulo Freire, a partir de suas compreensões sobre a autonomia, pode contribuir significativamente para a reflexão e ação profissional, que numa perspectiva ética, seja efetivamente direcionada para a transformação do/no cotidiano no sentido da humanização e justiça social. Abstract: Occupational therapy involves a multiplicity of fields of knowledge and practices that aim to build autonomy and is thus guided by various theories and methodologies. There is currently, especially in Latin America, growing interest in the adoption of critical perspectives within occupational therapy, whose concerns, despite the plural nature of the profession, overlap with those of Paulo Freire. This editorial reflects on how Paulo Freire’s educational theories could help occupational therapy to develop practices that promote autonomy. Paulo Freire’s work can be used as a guide for occupational therapy interventions that aim to achieve humanization and social justice. Seeing occupations as a form of expression and action in the world, basing occupational therapy on Freire’s work involves arguing that it can help human beings to "be more" as part of the process of transforming themselves and the world. These transformations involve exercising autonomy and are made concrete through this. They gain power a critical position is adopted in relation to the world of lived experience. We therefore espouse a dialogic form of occupational therapy, based on love, humility, faith in human beings, hope, and critical thinking. The meeting of occupational therapy and Paulo Freire’s educational theories, through their shared understanding of autonomy, may provide a significant contribution to theory and practice in the profession, whose ethos involves engendering more humanity and social justice in our everyday lives.Key words: Autonomy; Everyday; Humanization; Paulo Freire education; Occupational therapy. Resumen: La Terapia Ocupacional se caracteriza por la multiplicidad de conocimientos y prácticas dirigidas a construir autonomía que se guían por diferentes referencias teóricas y metodológicas. Hoy en día, especialmente en el contexto latinoamericano, hay una expansión de las discusiones sobre perspectivas críticas en Terapia Ocupacional, que a pesar de su pluralidad, en general, dialogan con las obras de Paulo Freire. Este editorial tiene como objetivo reflexionar sobre las posibles contribuciones de la pedagogía Paulo Freire a la construcción de prácticas dirigidas a la autonomía en el contexto de la terapia ocupacional. El marco de Paulo Freire puede apoyar las intervenciones de terapia ocupacional que tienen como objetivo la humanización y la justicia social. Entender las ocupaciones como expresión y formas de acción en el mundo, guiar la Terapia Ocupacional en el trabajo de Freire implica la defensa de que son promotores del "ser más" de los seres humanos en el proceso de transformarse a sí mismos y al mundo. Transformaciones que implican y se materializan en / a través del ejercicio de la autonomía y que se potencian en la asunción de posturas críticas en la realidad experimentada. En esta perspectiva, defendemos una terapia ocupacional dialógica, basada en el amor, la humildad, la fe en los seres humanos, la esperanza y el pensamiento crítico. El encuentro entre la Terapia Ocupacional y la Pedagogía de Paulo Freire, basado en su comprensión de la autonomía, puede contribuir significativamente a la reflexión y a la acción profesional, que desde una perspectiva ética, está efectivamente dirigida hacia la transformación de / en la vida diaria hacia la humanización. y justicia social.Palabras clave: Autonomia; Cotidiano; Humanização; Pedagogia Paulo Freire; Terapia ocupacional


2021 ◽  
pp. 155868982110336
Author(s):  
Nicole Leach Sankofa

Social justice research is popular in education, but social scientists have limited emancipatory methodological procedures, especially in scale construction approaches that empower marginalized communities in defining their own lived experience. Therefore, this study develops the Transformativist Measurement Development Methodology, exemplified using the development of the peer bonds scale. The sample (167 students across two democratic school communities) was randomly selected, then purposive sampled for optimal diversity. Across Transformativist Measurement Development Methodology’s six stages, mixed methods were used to check assumptions, set parameters, inductively operationalize the construct, qualitatively generate items, quantitatively examine psychometric properties, and examine trustworthiness. This work contributes to mixed methods social justice efforts that apply transformativist approaches to research processes for emancipatory social science procedures while enhancing rigor in scale construction methodology.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104973152110109
Author(s):  
Marjorie Johnstone

This article examines how mental health social work practice can move outside the hegemony of the medical model using approaches that honor the centering of social justice. By using the philosophical analysis of epistemic injustice and the ethics of knowing, I move out of the traditional psychiatric and psychological conceptual frameworks and discuss new guiding principles for practice. In the context of the radical tradition in social work and the impetus to blend theory with practice, I consider the use of narrative and anti-oppressive approaches to center social justice principles in individual dyadic work as well as in wider systems family and community work and policy advocacy. I evaluate these approaches through the principles of epistemic justice and discuss the importance of a relational collaborative approach where honoring the client and exploring lived experience are central to both the concepts of testimonial justice, hermeneutic justice and anti-oppressive practice.


2020 ◽  
pp. 194084472096820
Author(s):  
Sarah Strauven

The work outlined in this article has in part evolved as a response to Mr. Behrouz Boochani’s call to academics to engage with his work. First, I propose academics consider a form of public engagement drawn from narrative practice as social justice work in academia. In the next section, I illustrate my argument with an Australian case by discussing (a) a peaceful resistance undertaken by the refugees on Manus Island through the lens of definitional ceremony, (b) a public witnessing response by Dr. Surma to the written account of Mr. Boochani of the resistance, and (c) his reply to this act of witnessing. I complement this with my own response to both scholars on account of witnessing their exchanges. In the final section of this article, I articulate in more detail how this proposition of conceiving social justice work in academia is based on a politics of witnessing and acknowledgment. I argue that its epistemological and ontological dimensions hold promise for post-qualitative inquiry and that narrative practices more generally, can assist us in performing relationally situated research.


Janus Head ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-48
Author(s):  
Nisha Gupta ◽  

This paper is a recommendation for phenomenologists to use film as a perceptually-faithful language with which to disseminate research and in­sights about lived experience. I use Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy to illus­trate how film can evoke a state of profound, embodied empathy between self-and-other, which I refer to as “the cinematic chiasm”. I incorporate a case study of my experience as audience member becoming intertwined with the flesh of the film “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” I discuss four aesthetic techniques of this film through which I became enveloped in a state of visceral empathy towards the “other” on-screen. The cin­ematic chiasm offers exciting, creative possibilities for phenomenologists, particularly those who are interested in evoking widespread empathy for social justice purposes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-183
Author(s):  
Katharina Maier ◽  
Rosemary Ricciardelli ◽  
Shadd Maruna

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