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. You often found yourself drawn to stories of people overcoming adversity and fighting for fairness. These stories inspired you to believe that real change was possible, even on a small scale.
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, or 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 equity 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, apply current research, and being knowledgeable about new procedures. Social work in law enforcement provides a unique opportunity to work alongside law enforcement professionals to address the complex needs of individuals involved with the criminal justice system. 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 equity 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 equity 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 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 equity issues had someone behind the scenes researching this information. As a researcher who focuses on equity, 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.
Social Justice: Turn Passion into Action
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 equity for years, it is reassuring to know that you can turn this passion into a number of jobs that will make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
