Journal
Journaling is an activity used by students and professionals alike for self-reflection. It has many personal and professional benefits, including reducing stress and increasing learning (Alford, Malouff, & Osland, 2005; Liuolienë & Metiûnienë, 2009). You will be asked to journal about your thoughts, experiences, and/or insights. Please refer to the Journal Rubric under the Course Info tab for grading information.
Now that you have a sense of the origins of human rights and social justice, think about your own ideas of social justice. What is your personal definition of social justice?
The assignment: (600 words)
Write a journal assignment that includes the following:
- Provide your personal definition of social justice and give at least one example to illustrate it.
Support your Journal assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.
Submit your assignment by Sunday 1-14-18.
References:
Alford, W. K., Malouff, J. M., & Osland, K. S. (2005). Written emotional expression as a coping method in child protective services officers. International Journal of Stress Management. 12(2), 177–187.
Liuolienë, A., & Metiûnienë, R. (2009). Student’s learning through reflective journaling. Santalka. 17(4), 32–37.
Course Introduction
Welcome to Global Social Justice!
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly
—The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Regardless of nationality, race, gender, or religion, everyone is entitled to human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1948, was the first document to address global human rights. Despite its international adoption, the ideals, privileges and freedoms in this and subsequent documents are often challenged as products of biased Western cultures. In fact, the varying definitions of human rights have deep cultural roots in values and practices that may resist change, perpetuate inequity, and cause harm.
In this course, the first concept you explore relates to different views of human rights that reflect different interpretations of social justice. When it comes to social justice, you are likely to find that there are no correct answers. Throughout the course, you explore key philosophical concepts of global social justice and consider the following questions: At what point do cultural practices become violations of human rights? Are social injustices national or global concerns? Under what conditions does social injustice justify military intervention, if at all? How do governments and corporations help to remediate or sustain poverty? Who is responsible for helping poorer nations and how can social action be more effective?
At the conclusion of each week, you are asked to maintain a journal with answers to key questions about your perspectives, priorities, and roles in achieving global social justice. At the end of the course, you review your journal entries and reflect on the progression of your ideology about social justice. Most likely, your thoughts about the future of social justice will be changed forever after completing this course.
Again, welcome to Global Social Justice.
Week 1: What is Global Social Justice?
Introduction
Simply put, social justice is the concept of a “just” society based on a foundation of human rights. Most agree with the idea of basic human rights for all, yet, the nature of human rights varies dramatically around the world. When you consider social justice on a global level, think about the challenge of achieving a “just” society for every human being. What is considered “right” or “just” for all? Is it possible to have a universal acceptance of one interpretation of social justice?
This week you consider varied interpretations of social justice. You explore classic documents and analyze them for Western bias and universal applicability. Finally, you explain your personal ideology regarding social justice.
Learning Resources
Please read and view (where applicable) the following Learning Resources before you complete this week’s assignments.
·
Enter your MyWalden user name: (
patrick.boyd@waldenu.edu
) and password (3#icldyoB1) at the prompt. (if necessary)
Readings
· Book Excerpt: Wronka, J. M. (2008).
Chapter 2: Before and beyond the universal declaration of human rights
. In Human rights and social justice: Social action and service for the helping and health professions (pp. 43–65). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
· Book Excerpt: Gil, David G. (2008).
Foreword
. In J. M. Wronka, Human rights and social justice: Social action and service for the helping and health professions (pp. xvii–xviii). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
· Book Excerpt: Wronka, J. M. (2008).
Part I: Human rights as the bedrock of social justice
. In Human rights and social justice: Social action and service for the helping and health professions (pp. 5–36). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
· Book Excerpt: Wronka, J. M. (2008).
Preface
. In Human rights and social justice: Social action and service for the helping and health professions (pp. xix–xxiii). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
· Article: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (1789). The bill of rights. Retrieved December 9, 2010, from
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
· Article: Roosevelt, F.D. (1944). The economic bill of rights. Franklin D. Roosevelt American Heritage Center Museum. Retrieved December 9, 2010, from
http://www.fdrheritage.org/bill_of_rights.htm
· Article: United Nations, International Forum for Social Development. (2006). Dimensions of international justice and social justice. In Social justice in an open world: The role of the United Nations. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/ifsd/SocialJustice
· Article: United Nations. (1948). The universal declaration of human rights. Retrieved December 9, 2010, from
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Media
· Interactive Map:
Social Justice Issues
Transcripts of the Interactive Map, “Social Justice Issues,” are available at the following links:
Introduction
Human Rights Violations
Causes
Interventions
Social Justice Outcomes