Key Concepts in Social Justice and Justice Theories

Equality

The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

Equity

Fairness and justice in the way people are treated, taking into account different needs and circumstances.

Oppression

Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control over a group or individual.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of people based on race, gender, age, religion, or other characteristics.

Bias

A tendency to favor one person or group over another, often unfairly.

Inclusion

Actively involving and valuing diverse individuals and groups in all aspects of society.

Social Justice

The pursuit of a society where all individuals have equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources.

Marginalization

The process of pushing a group or individual to the edge of society, limiting their access to resources and opportunities.

Activism

Efforts to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental change.

Advocacy

Public support or recommendation for a cause or policy.

Human Rights

Basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world.

Cultural Competence

The ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

Segregation

The enforced separation of different racial or ethnic groups in daily life.

Hate Speech

Speech that attacks or demeans a group based on attributes such as race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or gender.

Empowerment

The process of gaining freedom and power to do what you want or to control what happens to you.

Restorative Justice

A system of justice focused on repairing harm caused by criminal behavior through cooperative processes.

Systemic Inequality

Inequality that is embedded in the normal operations of social institutions.

Social Mobility

The ability of individuals or groups to move within a social hierarchy.

Xenophobia

Fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers.

Care for Creation

The call to protect and preserve the environment as a gift from God.

Charity

Direct aid or assistance to those in need, motivated by love and compassion.

Common Good

Conditions that enable all people to flourish and live with dignity.

Distributive Justice

Fair allocation of resources by society to individuals.

Dignity of the Human Person

The belief that every person is created in the image of God and deserves respect and honor.

Economic Justice

Fair distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

Encyclical

A formal letter from the pope addressing important Church teachings or social issues.

Environmental Justice

Addressing the ethical responsibility to protect the environment and support those most affected by ecological harm.

Family, Community, and Participation

The importance of social institutions in supporting human dignity and the common good.

Human Solidarity

The recognition of our interconnectedness and responsibility to one another.

Human Work

The dignity of labor and the rights of workers.

Justice

The virtue that guides us to give others what is rightfully theirs.

Pastoral Care

Spiritual and practical support offered by the Church to individuals and communities.

Participation

The right and duty of all people to engage in society and its institutions.

Peace

The commitment to resolving conflict through justice, reconciliation, and respect.

Peacebuilding

Efforts to create lasting peace through justice, reconciliation, and cooperation.

Preferential Option for the Poor

The moral obligation to prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable in society.

Social Sin

Collective actions or structures that harm human dignity and the common good.

Solidarity

The commitment to stand with and support others, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Solidarity in Action

Practical efforts to support justice and peace in the world.

Stewardship

The responsible care and management of God's creation, including the environment and resources.

Subsidiarity

The principle that decisions should be made at the most local level possible, closest to the people affected.

Rights and Responsibilities

The idea that every person has basic rights that must be protected, along with corresponding duties to others and society.

Philosophical Background: Aristotle

Fairness means treating equals equally and unequals unequally, according to merit.

Philosophical Background: John Rawls

'Justice as fairness,' emphasizing equal basic rights and fair distribution.

Examples of Distributive Justice

Equal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

Procedural Justice

Justice based on the fairness of processes used to reach decisions.

Importance of Procedural Justice

People are more willing to accept outcomes—even unfavorable ones—if the process was transparent and unbiased.

Examples of Procedural Justice

Due process in court, fair grading in school, workplace grievance procedures.

Retributive Justice

Justice that emphasizes punishment for wrongdoing, ensuring that offenders receive a penalty proportionate to their offense.

Philosophical Roots of Retributive Justice: Kant

Punishment as a matter of moral duty; 'an eye for an eye.'

Examples of Retributive Justice

Prison sentences, school suspensions, corporate fines.

Philosophical Roots of Restorative Justice

Indigenous traditions; modern movements in criminal justice reform.

Examples of Restorative Justice

Victim-offender dialogues, community service, truth and reconciliation commissions.

Compensatory Justice

Justice concerned with compensating victims for harms or losses caused by others.

Examples of Compensatory Justice

Insurance claims, workplace injury settlements, reparations for slavery or colonial injustices.

Key Areas of Social Justice

Race, gender, class, disability, sexuality, and access to opportunities.

Examples of Social Justice

Civil rights legislation, gender pay equity laws, policies to reduce poverty.