Introduction
Understanding identity is critical in knowing the reason as to why there are different views on social justice. Some factors are essential to help us know our identities such as thinking individually, the things the society teaches us on morals and values and the growing of the mind due to the knowledge got from the media and peers. Individuals analyze social justice ideologies according to their identity. This paper will discuss how broad the definition of social justice is through examining the ideologies of the United States and Liberia.
United States Ideologies
Social justice can be said to be the right for everyone to enjoy equal economic, political and social rights. In America, social justice is founded in principles. Social workers usually hold the principle that there should be no any form of bias, equality for all is upheld. The main principles of social worker according to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, the workers are expected to be competent, have integrity, have dignity, understand the importance of human relationship, provide the required service and most importantly advocate for social justice (Jimenez, Pasztor, Mayers, Chambers, McDonald, 2014) .
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America is progressing well with human equality. In the United States Constitution under the Bill of Rights, it is written that there should be no discrimination against race, sex or even religion. Unfortunately, the government is still far from perfect when it comes to ensuring there is equality. Social workers and humanitarian groups are usually in the front line when advocating for social inclusion, structure and social justice.
Liberian ideologies
To start with, Liberia has undergone a lot of challenges such as the internal wars which were in the year 1989 to 1996 and then from 1999 to 2003. In 2014 they had Ebola epidemic. The long periods of war and the deaths even from the pandemic has left the country citizens mentally and emotionally tormented (Anderson & Myrna, 2011). Their properties were also destroyed. There has been discrimination, economic, education and also healthcare issues in Liberia.
Some women rose in this country to preach peace. They build social advocates and also leaders. The group was formed due to the torture that women underwent during the war including sexual assaults. There was extreme gender discrimination. These social workers protested, and eventually, several treaties were passed to ensure there was no discrimination again and also stopped the issue of children soldiers (Bekoe, Dorina and Paragon, Christina, 2007). Some of the groups which stood to assist in rebuilding Liberia are Women Peace and Security Network Africa, Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) and Mano River Women's Peace Network (MARWOPNET). Leymah Gbowee, a social worker in the country, said that there should be no time to rest until the world achieves wholeness and also balance. The constitution of Liberia upholds social justice (onfinder.Richmond.edu, 2005).
When it comes to comparing the social injustices the countries have undergone, there is nothing we can use to determine which country has suffered more. It may seem that Liberia people have suffered to a greater extent but some US citizens also have being discriminated only that the issue happens maybe to a small group of people at a time and the issue is not publicized.
Looking at the similarities, the two countries have heard to have some groups that fight for the right of others to ensure there is no discrimination. The constitution does not stop discrimination despite having rules that should be followed to ensure there is social justice. There are non- governmental organizations which keeps the government on toes. Citizens get tired after suffering for a long time, and they decide that enough is enough and they go ahead to achieve the social justice that they desire as the women of Liberia did.
In my view, there is a need to have social justice in all countries. Almost all the nations are experiencing the issues that the two states which I have discussed in this paper have passed through. Whether the country is developed or it is developing, equality should be upheld. There is no country which can claim to have developed if there is still no equality to the citizens. All people should have equal opportunities for health, education and also employment opportunities. In this century there should not be any cases of sexual discrimination. Women and men are believed that they can do the same jobs.
Conclusion
The ideology of social justice has a broader meaning. One should know his identity, understand the principles, values and also morals and be sure to avoid any form of bias. America has had economic growth compared to Liberia, but when it comes to social justice, the two countries are facing the same issues. We all have the same principles and morals despite living in different countries that have significant differences concerning governance. The social justice issues are felt through discrimination due to the ethnic groupings, class systems, religion, race and gender. There are various social workers in different countries that are helping in the fight against inequality.
References
Anderson, Myrna, (2011). Pioneering social work in Liberia. Calvin College, 2016. Retrieved on November 26, 2018. Retrieved from https://calvin.edu/news/archive/pioneering-social-work-in-liberia
Bekoe, Dorina and Paragon, Christina, (2007). Women’s Role in Liberia’s Reconstruction. United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved on November 26, 2018. Retrieved from http://www.usip.org/publications/women-s-role-in-liberia-s-reconstruction https://digitalbookshelf.argosy.edu/#/books/9781483324159/
Confinder.Richmond.edu, (2005). CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA. Page 1 &3 of PDF. Retrieved on November 26, 2018. Retrieved from confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/liberia.pdf
Jimenez, A., J., Pasztor, Mayers, E., Chambers, (McDonald), R. M. (2014). Social Policy and Social Change: Toward the Creation of Social and Economic Justice, 2nd Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from https://digitalbookshelf.argosy.edu/#/books/9781483324159/
