Sociology and Social Justice
In Sociology, you will study a wide variety of subjects related to society. Many of these topics will touch on the issue of social justice. The study of labor unions, worker’s rights, civil rights, human rights or environmental rights movements will all inform one about the struggle for social justice in the modern world. For example, the Women’s Rights movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries helped to secure the right to vote for women. This may seem an outdated example but it just goes to show how Social Justice is one of the biggest shapers of modern history.
Without movements to increase the rights of various groups a tremendous amount of productive and creative potential would have been stymied along with the rights of those groups to participate in democracy and have equal rights. This very important subject is not one that is usually touched upon in primary school due to its political nature, unless the subject matter is a long settled issue such as the Civil Rights movement. As such, for many students the study of social justice can be really eye opening and can create a strong desire to pursue social justice in their private and work lives.
Many who enter into the study of Sociology are interested in the pursuit of Social Justice. It is very noble to be interested in improving the quality of life for the most vulnerable members of society. Social justice is a common interest of those throughout the Human Services sphere. In fact, many Human Services professions are the by-product or end result of successful social justice movements. Whether you are helping improve community health as a Public Health official, helping a homeless man receive his food stamps, or making policy decisions as a Public Administrator, there are a wide variety of ways to positively impact social justice in Human Services.
Someone who has studied Sociology might be very attracted to the idea of joining a human services agency to affect positive change in their community. The diversity of jobs in human services that can positively impact matters of social justice are many and varied. Some examples of jobs that impact Social Justice include:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Child Psychologist
- Domestic Violence Counselor
- Case Worker
- Child Advocate
- Public Policy Consultant
- Public Administrator
- Eligibility Worker
- Rehabilitation Case Worker
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Probation Officer
So many jobs in Human Services are able to positively impact social justice. As a Sociologist you will have had the opportunity to study a variety of social justice movements and to determine which one resonates with you.
Once you have found an area of social justice you wish to champion, you will be able to find a career in Human Services that is the best fit for you. If you are looking to make a difference in the world and advocate and empower the most vulnerable members of society, then a career in Human Services is an excellent.
