● ● Overview In this assignment, you will explore key concepts related to social justice, including justice, fairness, equality, and bias. You will also explore how narratives affect perceptions of

social justice and core principles of social justice. This part of the project will be the basis for the rest of your project and will help you apply your knowledge of concepts related to social justice. Directions First, consult the Project Guidelines and Rubric to review the scope of the project and the provided scenarios. Next, review the Scenario Profiles document, which provides information related to the scenarios and potential conflicts, and select a scenario. (You will select and analyze one of the three conflicts associated with your chosen scenario in a later module.) Choose a scenario for this assignment carefully, because you will use the same scenario for the project. Then, with your chosen scenario in mind, address the assignment prompts by completing Part One in the Project Template. The following is a preview of the scenarios and conflicts: Scenario 1 - School You are interacting with a very diverse group of peers this term who come from different cultures, socioeconomic statuses, ability levels, learning styles, career goals, and more. Scenario 2 - Personal It's the time of year when you gather with friends and family. Recent events in the news that impact different cultures have caused differences of opinion related to issues of justice and fairness, creating conflict with those you care about. You are hosting the next holiday celebration with your family members and friends with diverse thoughts and opinions. . Scenario 3 - Workplace The organization you work for is expanding and acquiring an international business, increasing the total employee population from 500 to 10,000. Employees are located in multiple states and countries across the world. Note: You can find the Project Template linked in the What to Submit section. You can find the Project Guidelines and Rubric and the Scenario Profiles document linked in the Supporting Materials section. Specifically, you must address the following: Project: Part One: Social Justice 1. Explain the difference between justice, fairness, and equality in the scenario. 2. Describe how bias can influence your perception of social justice in the scenario. 3. Describe how different narratives in society can impact your perception of social justice. 4. Describe the core principles of social justice in the scenario. What to Submit Submit your Project Template for grading. You will use the same Project Template for all of the project drafts and for the project. For this assignment, the Module Two Project Draft, you will complete Part One of the Project Template. You do not need to complete Part Two and Part Three of the template for this assignment. Additionally, no sources are required. Justice, Fairness, and Equality Justice, fairness, and equality are all essential components of a just society. Justice refers to the fair and impartial treatment of individuals under the law, whereas fairness is about treating individuals equally and impartially, without any discrimination or bias. As described previously in this course, although equality and equity are related concepts, each has a distinct meaning. Equality refers to the idea that everyone should be treated the same and receive the same resources, regardless of their differences and sometimes their individual needs. Equality makes the assumption that everyone has the same or an equal starting point and needs the same support to achieve their goals, but this is simply not the case. Equity, on the other hand, means fairness or justice in the way resources and opportunities are distributed. Because we cannot assume that everyone has the same needs, the resources provided take that into account to support a more just society. Equality and equity work together to promote fairness and justice. Equality is an aspirational goal that has yet to arrive, whereas equity works to identify the problems and solve them in pursuit of fairness. Social Justice and Fairness Previously in this course, you explored the core principles of social justice. You learned that the goal of social justice is to create a fair and just society where everyone has equal rights and opportunities regardless of a person's race, gender, socioeconomic status, or other social identities. Social justice is related to fairness because it centers on how people should be treated: in a way that is just, fair, and equitable. One of the core principles of social justice is access to resources and opportunities, which alludes to fair treatment and dignity for all. Social Justice in the Classroom and Awareness of Other Cultures Adult students have ample opportunities to apply social justice concepts in the classroom. Since social justice is linked to equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts, knowing where to start may be challenging. These efforts may require you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and that is okay. Fortunately, you have a safe space to practice using your voice in the online classroom. Here are a few tips to help you get started: 1. Educate yourself on social justice issues. New learning can take multiple forms. You can read, view videos, attend workshops, and actively engage your peers on the discussion board that centers on social justice topics, including the following: a. Disability rights and accessibility b. Racial justice and anti-racism c. Housing and the unhoused d. Voting rights and democracy e. Labor rights and worker protections f. Ageism and age discrimination 2. Open yourself up to having the conversation. Seek opportunities to connect with classmates in the classroom and social groups online, such as SNHU Connect. Having a meaningful dialogue with peers with different backgrounds and perspectives can be an enlightening experience that can help you increase your empathy, which refers to understanding the feelings of others. Communicating with peers with diverse backgrounds can also influence positive intercultural communication experiences, and challenge assumptions and biases. 3. Be a change advocate. Use the classroom to build the muscle of your voice. Advocacy is a great skill that requires you to listen to understand so you can communicate a response that people can hear. As you develop in your advocacy, you can continue practicing outside the classroom by writing letters to people in power and becoming more active in your local communities. 4. Practice the gift of inclusion. Self-awareness is critical to where you stand and where others may sit in similar spaces. Your self-awareness requires you to practice mindfulness, which includes paying attention to what you say and how you act in different circumstances. Do you speak up when you witness discrimination or microaggressions? How do you handle feedback and criticism? As you move forward with this course, you will learn more about practicing inclusion. 5. Move into a place of action. Social justice requires you to move into a place of action. Volunteering, seeking out organizations that align with your values to donate resources such as money or time, and working in a career field that connects social justice topics can help you achieve your goals. Equity and Equality: What's the Difference? To understand the topics of this week's work, it is vital to ensure that we have a shared understanding of the terms that we will use, starting with the word equality. Equality is defined as evenly distributed access to resources and opportunities necessary for a safe and healthy life; it is the uniform distribution of access to ensure fairness (SNHU, 2018). Has there ever been a time when equality was successfully performed? Do all social groups and identities receive equal support or equal access to support? Are there some groups that are met with resistance to resources? Healthcare, for example, is not evenly distributed to all. People do not have the same ability to afford medication. Equality and equity have the same goal: fairness (Makematic, 2018). This citation of equality, equity, and fairness is interesting because it highlights how aspirational the term equality can be. Equity is used to help support the individual, whereas equality is a term used to support the whole. An example of the difference between equality and equity is providing the same medication to all people. Although everyone will receive this medication, will everyone receive the same support that will help them? Some people may have allergic reactions to the medication given, and others may need other medicines to help them with specific health issues. How do we make this situation more equitable and fairer? We have achieved the aspirational goal of equality if we give each person the medication they need to stay healthy and survive. How can one encompass fairness when inequality exists? It is important to note that there is no universal agreement on what makes something fair or equal, due to different worldviews, lived experiences, and where people sit within their dominant social identities. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, equity and equality played a significant role as politics and healthcare were competing priorities (Equity vs. Equality, 2021). This resource argues for the importance of coming together as a nation to define the application and distribution of resources for citizens. As you explore this module's content and submit the assignments, it will be important to consider your views on equality, equity, and fairness. Have you had instances where you 1. Viewed equality and equity differently from how you view the terms now? 2. Questioned fairness in any capacity?