How Poverty Leads to Social Injustice
Social justice is achieved when all people have the right to a life of dignity, or a life free from poverty, violence, discrimination and human rights violations, explains Candice V Cunningham, founder of the non-profit organization The Black Ecosystem in Chicago.
Many people fail to realize how closely linked poverty and social injustice are, and how alleviating poverty can increase social justice for all.
Approximately 46 million Americans live below the poverty line. This increases their risk of mortality, disability, violence and much more. Impoverished persons have less access to healthy food and adequate medical care. Social injustice occurs where there is a denial or violation of rights of certain groups within society. This occurs most commonly among impoverished populations in both the United States and around the world.
Over time, these denials prevent people who live in poverty from accessing justice on an equal level in comparison to those who do not live in poverty. Social justice, then, must be a tool by which we can reduce poverty and inequality over time.
What Causes Poverty?
Poverty is much more than a simple lack of income. It is often the result of a myriad of phenomenon, intergenerational disparities, a chronic lack of resources, choices, security and power, which create a never-ending cycle, says Candice Cunningham. Decision-makers must address these aspects and the effects of poverty in addition to increasing access to housing, food, safe spaces, education, healthcare and more.
Those living in poverty need to be able to access legal remedies when their rights have been violated. Without a remedy, there is no right. Those living in abject poverty are more susceptible to crime, violence, abuse and exploration, explains Candice Cunningham. Without a way to address these issues, these victims become more vulnerable, and so the cycle continues. There is no accountability. This impacts generations of families, who all struggle with the intergenerational effects of poverty and trauma.
How to Remedy Poverty?
A real remedy to address poverty and social injustice comes in the form of true access to justice. We must work together to enforce basic human rights, remedy exploitation, mandate affordable housing, and develop progressive laws and social policies specifically developed to alleviate poverty.
Certain sectors of the population are even more at risk of social injustice — in particular, women. Women are statistically more likely to be living in poverty, and their participation in the justice system when attempting to assert their rights has been met with disappointing results at best. Gender-based crimes are on the rise, and yet our country has no way to effectively deal with them, states Candice Cunningham. Women also face increased stigma, alienation and prejudice when reporting injustice as compared to men.
Our focus must be on alleviating poverty in a way that increases access to justice and enhanced governmental policies for those who are impoverished. We must work together to ensure that the poor have access to effective remedies under law and that justice — especially social justice — is truly and equally available to all.
Poverty is much more than inadequate living resources. Instead, true poverty is best understood as a lack of justice — and we must address this injustice on both an economic and political level.
More on Candice V Cunningham: http://inspirery.com/candice-v-cunningham/
