My coursework has broadened my understanding of social justice through its interdisciplinary framing, incorporating historical context, critical theory, and experiential learning. These allowed me to explore social justice not as some abstract entity but as a practice ingrained in concrete struggles for equality, freedom from discrimination, and justice. Specific ways my coursework has made me understand it better:
Lessons drawn from the course “Body Rights: Systems and Social Movements of Social Justice” delved into the intersection of body politics, human rights, and social justice by examining how individuals’ rights to their bodies are controlled, regulated, or oppressed by societal systems. Through a critical lens, the course explores how marginalized communities, particularly women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and racial minorities, have historically been denied autonomy over their bodies (Federici, 2004). This denial manifests through institutional mechanisms such as laws governing reproductive rights, healthcare access, gender identity, and policing of bodies in public and private spheres (Foucault, 1990).
The course covered a range of critical theories, including feminist theory, queer theory, and critical race theory, to challenge existing norms that perpetuate inequality. For example, feminist theorists like Judith Butler (1990) emphasize the performativity of gender and question the binary norms that regulate what is considered acceptable or deviant concerning one’s body. These theories link to social movements advocating for bodily autonomy, such as the #MeToo movement (Burke & Gharib, 2021), which challenges sexual violence and workplace harassment, and the pro-choice movement (Ross & Solinger, 2017), which fights for reproductive rights.
In studying these movements, the course highlights the systemic structures—patriarchy, heteronormativity, and white supremacy—that limit body rights. An example explored in the course is the Black Lives Matter movement (Taylor, 2016), which not only addresses police brutality but also emphasizes the right of Black bodies to exist freely and without fear of state violence. The movement illustrates how racialized bodies are policed and marginalized and connects the struggle for racial justice to broader demands for body sovereignty (Coates, 2015).
By applying these critical theories to real-world movements, I gained a deeper understanding of engaging in activism and advocating for body rights within the larger social justice framework.
Through case studies of historical social justice movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S., I learned how marginalized communities have fought for justice and equality. In examining the leadership of figures like Martin Luther King Jr. (Carson, 1998), I was struck by how his approaches to social justice combined nonviolent resistance with a deep commitment to structural change. These movements emphasized how social justice is achieved by changing laws and shifting societal attitudes and power dynamics (Morris, 1984).
For example, my coursework on Body Rights: Systems and Social Movements is crucial to the broader landscape of social justice because it addresses the unique vulnerabilities and needs of children, who are often excluded from decision-making processes and whose rights are frequently overlooked (UNICEF, 1989). At its core, the movement seeks to ensure that children are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, emphasizing their right to survival, development, protection, and participation in society (Landsdown, 2011), as children have been subjected to labour exploitation, trafficking, and various forms of abuse (ILO & UNICEF, 2021).
A significant part of my understanding of social justice came from studying intersectionality. Courses like the Indigenous Ways of Pedagogies and Practices, and Body Rights, focused on Kimberlé Crenshaw’s (1989, 1991) work and other feminist scholars taught me that social justice must account for the interconnected nature of oppression. For example, women of colour experience racism and sexism simultaneously, and social justice initiatives must be designed to address these multiple forms of discrimination (Collins, 2000). This framework was critical in helping me understand that justice for one group cannot be achieved in isolation—it requires dismantling the interlocking systems of oppression that affect various marginalized groups differently (hooks, 2000).
This course taught me about the Black Lives Matter movement, which incorporates intersectional activism by advocating for racial justice while addressing issues like gender violence and LGBTQ+ rights (Garza et al., 2014; Taylor, 2016).
Experiential learning opportunities, like community engagement and Practicum, have been integral to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Probably the most instructive experience, however, has been working with a local nonprofit organization concerned with women’s rights for victims and survivors of Sexual assault. This has allowed me to witness first-hand how social justice issues manifest on the ground, specifically the systemic barriers that exist when accessing support for needy women.
My coursework has also provided tools for critically analyzing current social justice issues, such as the climate justice movement, which conceptualizes environmental degradation as disproportionately affecting communities of colour. It was courses on environmental justice that made me aware of environmental racism, where communities of colour had been targeted for exposure to hazardous waste sites and even exposure to pollution.
It triggered in me, finally, the urge to solve and lead for social justice by encouraging me to think innovatively about issues of injustice through the reform of policy, community organizing, or education. This experience further developed my leadership skills to fight for social justice through empathy, active listening, and coalition-building. It further revealed that natural social justice is essential in collaboration with the voices and participation of those most affected by injustice.
The coursework greatly gave me an informed understanding of social justice based on historical, theoretical, and applied perspectives. Through the lessons of past movements, immersion into current issues, and direct experience, I found a much more thorough understanding of how injustice is structural and complex, demanding multidimensional approaches toward making a more just and equitable society.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”. Martin Luther King Jr.