TAKE
ACTION!
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
—President Barack Obama
Take Action to Advance Social Justice
Engaging in social justice advocacy goes beyond the individual work that we as social workers do within our clinical work with clients. In fact, the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics requires that social workers engage in social and political action to “ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully.”
If you do not know where to start or want to find out more that you can do to fulfill this ethical requirement, AdvanceSocialJustice.net has complied a list of activities and information to help guide you advance social justice in your community:
Self-Awareness
When looking to get more involved in social justice efforts, one should start by engaging in self-reflection. The privilege and positionality that we hold can impact our implicit biases, beliefs, and habits..all of which heavily influence how we engage in social justice advocacy. Taking the steps towards positive action and social change starts with engaging in self-reflection exercises to try to understand the power and positionality that is held and how it impacts others. The University of Kansas identifies that becoming a strong ally in a social justice movement requires ongoing self-reflection, learning, and openness to growth.
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Educate Yourself with Research
Start with what you are passionate about and then do some research: What are the latest facts, legislation, organizations to get involved with? Understanding the current state of the issue and what is being done about them will help you get a sense of what you can do to help advocate for change. AdvanceSocialJustice.net can help you start this process. Check out our resource pages for several social justice issues:
Engage in Activism
Research has found that social workers frequently engage in passive forms of activism, but not as often in active forms of activism. This is due to passive activities being perceived as being sufficient to fulfill the ethical responsibility to social justice and because many social workers do not feel qualified to engage in more active forms (such as getting involved in politics). However, engaging in both are important to create social change. Find out more about them below:
Passive Participation
Passive activist activities include participation in actions that educate an individual on particular issues, as a spectator, but without exerting influence or resistance to the current status quo. These activities include:
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Reading, listening, or watching the news
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Knowing who represents you in the local, state, and federal government
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Following the progress of legislation
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Liking a post on social media made by an organization, representative, or other individuals
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Researching social justice issues
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Sharing political opinions with others
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Discussing current policy issues with others
While these activities are important, to help advocate for social change, these activities need to be combined with more active forms of advocacy.
Source:
Rome, S. H. & Hoechstetter, S. (2010). Social work and civic engagement: The political participation of professional social workers. The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 37(3), 107-129.
Active Forms of Advocacy
The University of Kansas' Community Toolbox defines social action as "the practice of taking action – usually as part of an organized group or community – to create positive change. "
Participating in direct action to confront injustice can be a vehicle for change! There are many ways you can get involved- whether it be attending a rally, contacting a legislator, or running for office yourself.
Donate to a Cause or Organization
If you are financially able, most social justice organizations & movements would appreciate monetary donations to assist them in achieving their mission. Websites such as CharityNavigator.org are great tools to help you assess whether an organization is legitimate. Charity Navigator also evaluates organizational accountability, financial health, and transparency to help you make an informed decision of what organizations you should donate to.
Use Social Media
Some of the biggest recent movements in our society have started through social media campaigns, including #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street, and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Whether it is contributing to a social media social justice campaign, or starting your own, the digital activism engagement opportunities are seemingly endless.
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Incorporate Social Justice Principles into Your Professional Routine
Whether you are a social work practitioner, leader, or educator, you can incorporate social justice theory and principles into your daily professional routine to help make a positive impact.
We have complied some resources to help guide you on how you can do so! Navigate to each of the respective sections to find out more.