For as long as you can remember, you have been interested in the topic of social justice. When you were in high school, you dreamed of becoming an activist and helping everyone to get equal access to healthcare and jobs.
Now, you closely follow news stories that relate to this crucial topic. When friends and family ask you “What is social justice?”, you are happy to explain how it involves redistributing the power in society to help improve the well-being and lives of others who are often marginalized through no fault of their own. This can include those who are discriminated against due to their sexual orientation, religion, race, nationality and disability.
Lately, you have decided to revisit the idea of turning your passion for social justice into your life’s calling and career. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can do just that.
Social Service Worker
Social work is an outstanding career choice for people who care deeply about social justice and human dignity. You will work directly with others to help them get connected to the services and programs they need to improve their lives. A career as a social service worker can also challenge you in a positive way to stay up to date on regulations, applying current research and being knowledgeable about new procedures. If you want a job that will offer you a hands-on approach to social justice, a social service career will deliver.
Lawyer
Becoming a lawyer is much more than keeping bad guys out of jail or trying to put them there. You can also specialize in human rights violations and social justice issues, and help advocate for people who have had their civil rights violated and/or have been abused in some way. Social justice law also covers gender equality, the issues that impact the LGBTIQ community, the rights of indigenous people and much more.
Non-Profit Work
There is a wide variety of non-profit organizations that specialize in fighting for human rights for others. For someone who wants to pursue a career in social justice, working for one of these groups would be a great way to achieve this goal. To find inspiration, Google social justice topics that interest you along with the word “non profit” and see what comes up. For example, if you want to assist the community of LGBTIQ people, OutRight Action International might be a good place to apply for a job. They work at the regional, national and international levels to fight for the human rights for LGBTIQ people around the world. Another non-profit that directly impacts a social justice issue is The Bail Project. They are working to combat the problems of mass incarceration by ending the cash bail system and creating a more just pretrial system.
Researcher
All of those news stories and articles that contain accurate data about social justice issues had someone behind the scenes researching this information. As a researcher who focuses on social justice, you can gather data, statistics and info on issues like poverty, criminal justice, racial justice the issues that impact the LGBTIQ community and more. Researchers will typically work at international organizations, non-profits, government groups and academic institutions.
You’ve Got the Drive, Now Find the Career
There is something so fulfilling about finding work that you know is making a true difference in the lives of others. When it’s also a career that you are personally interested in, all the better. As someone who has been interested in social justice for years, it is reassuring to know that you can turn this passion into a number of jobs that will are making a tangible difference in the lives of others.
