The Fight For Social Justice Essay - 2115 Words

The main purpose of social work is to advocate for those who have no voice. Throughout history, many individuals have served as role models and proponents of social justice, helping to create policies and programs so future generations can benefit. Jane Addams, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rachel Carson, and Harriet Tubman worked tirelessly and devoted their entire lives to the pursuit of justice. We have learned through their sacrifices that change is just one person away, and that it takes tremendous force to shift the political landscape of social welfare policy. Jane Addams is considered by many to be the first major contributor to the field of social work. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Rockford College for Women, she†¦show more content†¦Addams’ concept of a settlement house coincided with the Industrial Revolution, a movement in history where people moved to cities en masse for more job opportunities. The Industrial Revolution brought about a number of issues that Addams sought to rectify, including harsh working conditions for children, poor sanitation, overcrowding, lack of health care, and the systematic practice of placing the poor in â€Å"insane asylums,† as they were called, or institutions. This was also the time when charitable organization societies (COS’s) went into poor neighborhoods as â€Å"friendly visitors† and monitored their conditions (Blau, 2010). There was also a large perception at the time that the poor were responsible for their own plight, and that they should work hard to rise above poverty (Blau, 2010). The perception of the poor as personally responsible for their own situation was derived from Calvinist philosophy and the Elizabethan Poor Laws (Blau, 2010). Both concepts were British traditions that filtered down to the first American colonies, and became the basis for our social welfare system (Blau, 2010). Addams was one of the first individuals to examine the poor from an unbiased perspective, and tended to their needs in a way that did not make them feel accountable or responsible. With the establishment of Hull House, Addams continued to speak out on behalf of the oppressed. Her advocacy activities ranged from speakingShow MoreRelatedThe Fight for Social Justice Essay892 Words   |  4 PagesIt has been proven that often, the fight for social justice and the common good comes at a great cost to those involved. Through writings such as Dr. Martin Luther King’s â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† and Sophocles’ â€Å"Antigone†, as well as, lectures such as Dr.Colbourn’s lecture â€Å"Confronting History and the Good Life: Life after Rosewood† it is demonstrated how life, freedom, and a normal everyday life suffer as a cost of fighting for social justice and the common good. 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They either helped to found, or lent their voices to, various social movements, policies, and causes that evolved during their lifetimes and proved successful in helping many oppressed people. Jane Addams is most famous