Champions of truth and justice can rise to fame and end up being recorded in history books alongside presidents. Pursuers of truth are often thought of as fighting for equality without being paid a salary, but that’s not exactly accurate. Feminists, LGBT advocates, and other leaders in the social justice world not only have titles, they’re often quite accomplished academically. Go to With My Degree and determine what fields of study are best for going into a career in social justice. Get started working in a field that you love, supporting people who need help, and righting the wrongs of society.
What Does It Mean to Work For Social Justice?
When sometimes happens in the public eye that doesn’t seem fair and balanced, it is deemed to be a social injustice. For instance, immigration laws that punish minor children who were brought into the U.S. are not truly fair and equitable. People working in social justice might help the children of undocumented immigrants fight extradition, relocate to sanctuary cities or aid in offsetting medical costs. In general, social justice just means fighting for groups of people who may not normally get representation because they are discriminated against or marginalized.
How to Make a Living Working in the Social Justice Sector
Many jobs in social justice are related to non-profits and other privatized organizations. Funding may come from philanthropists or through 100% grassroots fundraising efforts. Although many people who work in social justice do so because of the kindness of their hearts, not all professionals are expected to work without fair compensation. This is more true of organization leaders, like chairpersons and presidents. Remember that you can work in social justice as an attorney, a social worker, a therapist, or even a volunteer. If you have the education and an interest, there are social justice related jobs waiting to be filled.
Finding the Matter that Matters to You
Are you filled with sadness and feel moved to make a difference in the world when you hear about the difficulty that some military veterans have finding affordable housing? Are you bothered by the number of abused children there are being neglected by social services? Ultimately, one topic is going to pull at your heartstrings and make you motivated to become a champion for a particular cause. Some people working in social justice can be passionate about more than one thing. On the other hand, lots of different causes are also closely related. If you want a career, you are going to need to focus on something that makes you want to speak out and start fighting until real change is achieved.
A career in social justice can start as early as high school. Whether you enjoyed being a part of committees designed to educate fellow classmates about what’s going on in the world or even volunteering for organizations after school, there’s something to be said about doing something that helps others first. So, commit to getting a degree in general or interdisciplinary studies and become a champion for the social justice movement.
