Social injustice is the unequal or unfair treatment of a group of people within a society. This may include systemic issues, legal frameworks and ingrained biases that affect all aspects of society, including healthcare, education, employment and housing.
These systemic barriers limit opportunities and perpetuate poverty and discrimination. Understanding how these pervasive overt and covert social justice issues affect the lives of people on the receiving end of them is foundational to promoting a more equitable and just society.1
This article will cover 16 forms of social injustice and give an overview of how each impacts the quality of life for people affected.
1. Income Inequality
Although the U.S. is seen as the land of opportunity, the gap between the rich and everyone else has been increasing by all measures for the past 30 years. Income for the top 1% of earners has grown exponentially, while income for the bottom 20% has remained stagnant.2
These top 1% currently make almost 139 times as much as the bottom 20% of earners.2
Economic disparities exist in racial and gender spheres. White households account for almost 85% of all wealth in the U.S. despite only making up 77% of the population. Women are over half of the workforce but account for only 17% of top 1% earners.2
Economic inequality is obviously bad for the people it affects–closing off access to social mobility, education and safe neighborhoods, as well as contributing to food insecurity and negatively impacting health outcomes. It’s also bad for society as a whole. The Equality Trust reports research that shows income inequality leads to higher levels of debt and inflation, which increases financial instability.3
2. Racial Discrimination
Over half a century after the civil rights movement, racial injustice is still a pervasive issue in the U.S. While everyone can think of drastic, unambiguous and individual examples of systemic racism, small-scale incidents that echo and reinforce this subtler form of systemic racism are much more common.
Often, discriminatory practices against racial and ethnic minorities are perpetuated by people who don't intend to be racist and may not even be aware that racism is contributing to their actions. For example, a hiring manager trying to decide which applicants to interview may think that one candidate just seems like a better fit for their company than another without considering that the names, charitable work, or alma maters on those resumes imply the candidates' racial backgrounds and that these assumed backgrounds are influencing the hiring manager's choice. This pattern of behavior reflects a subconscious bias–discriminatory attitudes and beliefs that occur outside of human beings' conscious thought.4
Racial discrimination has a far-reaching impact on people throughout the world. It locks them out of many employment opportunities, limits access to quality schools, education, healthcare and neighborhoods, exposes them to crime and environmental hazards and results in higher incarceration rates and stiffer penalties.4
3. Gender Inequality
Although women now compose a significant portion of the workforce, the gender pay gap persists, with continuing gender inequality leading to their underrepresentation in leadership and high-salary positions. Women face gender discrimination in hiring and workplace sexual harassment at far greater rates than men. Between 2018 and 2021, women filed over 78% of the sexual harassment complaints made to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).5
Gender injustice issues contribute to gender-based violence, including physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse. An analysis of data collected between 2000 and 2018 revealed that, worldwide, 30% of women have experienced sexual abuse from partners and non-partners in their lifetimes.6
4. Access to Education
Unequal funding is a significant barrier to high-quality education for many students living in school districts with high poverty rates and those that serve mostly students from marginalized racial or ethnic minorities and groups. These districts often aren't given the same resources as those that predominantly serve students from more privileged backgrounds, such as better-educated teachers, access to advanced coursework that can prepare students for college, smaller class sizes and high-quality curricula.7
Educational disparities contribute to lower high school and college completion rates, higher rates of poverty and less political participation. These factors mean that the children of people who grew up without equal access to education are more likely to have difficulty accessing education in their turn, creating a cycle that continues into future generations and contributes to social injustice.7
5. Health Inequities
In the U.S., people with lower job stability and people of color are less likely to have health insurance coverage, which is a major obstacle to receiving quality healthcare. Low-income and minority neighborhoods often have fewer hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers and specialists than their wealthier counterparts.8
The result of this inadequate healthcare, as detailed by the National Institutes of Health, is that people of color experience shorter lifespans, have higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and face higher rates of pregnancy complications and maternal death.8
6. Climate Change and Environmental Justice
Although climate change is a worldwide concern, it doesn’t affect everyone equally. People of color and low-income communities, as well as developing nations, usually feel the most severe consequences of climate change. They often lack resources that would help mitigate the immediate effects, such as the time and money to travel somewhere cooler during a deadly heat wave, and may find themselves struggling with the choice of whether to stay in an increasingly uninhabitable area.9
They’re also disproportionately affected by daily health risks associated with climate change, such as heat stress, disease outbreaks and malnutrition. Environmental injustice means that low-income groups and people of color disproportionately have to deal with the economic challenges and environmental hazards associated with climate change, despite the fact that they generally contribute the least to its underlying causes.9
7. Housing and Homelessness
The scarcity of affordable housing, caused by rising costs of land, construction and homeowner’s insurance–along with the end of COVID-19 relief programs–has contributed to an increase in homelessness and housing insecurity since 2022.10 People who experience housing insecurity and homelessness have increased mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and stress. Housing insecurity is also associated with poor physical health and is associated with a life expectancy up to 30 years less than average.11
8. Criminal Justice System Inequality
Racial injustice and economic biases within the criminal justice system have resulted in a disproportionate percentage of people of color who are incarcerated or under correctional control. Black men in the U.S. are six times more likely to be incarcerated than white men, and 11.4% of black children have an incarcerated parent, compared to 1.8% of white children.12
Mass incarceration also has widespread negative effects for communities. Counties that have higher incarceration rates have 3% higher mortality rates and higher rates of diabetes, infant mortality, psychiatric hospitalizations and premature death.13
9. Food Insecurity and Hunger
In low-income neighborhoods, people often find it harder to access nutritious food due to a lack of full-service supermarkets. Instead, they have to shop at convenience stores, which have higher prices and prioritize selling unhealthy snack foods.14
Food insecurity, even when it doesn’t lead to hunger, increases the risk of chronic diseases. It’s also associated with child development issues and mental health problems, and can impact a child’s ability to learn and concentrate in school.15
10. Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
According to the World Economic Forum, access to water is a basic human right, as it is necessary for public health and disease prevention. However, in the U.S., 2.2 million people live without running water and basic indoor plumbing, and over 44 million live where their water systems don’t meet the Safe Drinking Water Act standards. People of color, immigrants and those living in rural or low-income areas are more likely to lack access to clean water and sanitation.16
11. The Digital Divide
The digital divide refers to the gap between people who have reliable access to modern information and communication technology and those who don’t. Digital skills are increasingly important in education, employment and civic engagement. Remote work and education–which can bring economic opportunities to underserved communities–are restricted for households without adequate internet service and technology. People of color, those living on tribal lands and those in rural areas are disproportionately affected by the digital divide.17
12. Immigration and Refugee Rights
Immigrants and refugees face social and economic challenges related to their financial status as well as other factors, such as difficulties with cultural adjustment. They may not speak the language and frequently face discrimination based on their immigrant status. People seeking asylum are fleeing difficult conditions in their homeland and may have related trauma that can cause mental health struggles.18
13. LGBTQ+ Rights and Discrimination
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County made LGBTQ+ people members of a protected class. However, almost half of LGBTQ+ workers in the U.S. report that they’ve experienced such discrimination in the workplace as being fired, not being hired or being harassed–based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people extends beyond the workplace and can affect their access to education, housing, quality healthcare, and public spaces and services.19
14. Child Labor and Exploitation
Child labor affects approximately 160 million children globally, particularly in developing regions where poverty is rampant. Almost half of children in the labor market work in hazardous conditions and one-third are not in school. Many suffer illnesses, injuries and trauma related to their working conditions. Child labor is a major injustice in the world today that will require a coordinated global effort to solve.20
15. Mental Health Stigma and Access
Even when people have access to affordable and appropriate mental health treatment options, the associated stigma can prevent them from seeking support. Many people fear repercussions from their employers or being negatively judged. They may experience shame surrounding their condition and be reluctant to be labeled. However, delaying or avoiding treatment for mental health issues can lead to poor outcomes and worsening symptoms.21
This stigma affects already marginalized communities the most, creating additional barriers to care. This results in lower rates of treatment and diagnoses among people of color and other minorities.22
16. Political Disenfranchisement
Barriers to voting and lack of representation can lead to exclusion from the democratic process. Strict voter ID laws, restrictions on early voting and eliminating mail-in voting are all challenges that negatively impact low-income voters, people of color and the elderly. Other accessibility issues include language barriers, physical obstacles for people with disabilities and having to travel to distant voting locations.
These barriers can result in systematic economic inequality and injustice as the voices of many are not adequately represented in politics, preventing them from receiving equal treatment from their representatives or enacting political change.23
Take Action for Social Justice—Become a Social Worker
These social justice issues highlight how unfair treatment and economic disparities continue to shape our society's social structures. While each issue presents unique challenges, they often intersect and compound one another, particularly affecting racial and ethnic minorities and those with limited economic opportunities. Social workers play a vital role in addressing these systemic inequalities and advocating for equal rights across all communities.
If you're passionate about creating positive change and promoting social justice, consider pursuing an online Master of Social Work (MSW). The Wurzweiler School of Social Work offers a flexible program that allows you to balance your education with other commitments while preparing for a career in advocacy and social change. The curriculum combines academic rigor with practical skills development, enabling graduates to address these critical challenges through policy reform and direct service. Learn more about program admissions or schedule a consultation with an admissions outreach advisor to discover how you can make a difference in addressing these pressing social issues.
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from graygroupintl.com/blog/what-is-social-injustice
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from inequality.org/facts/income-inequality/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from equalitytrust.org.uk/impacts/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-021-00349-3
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from embroker.com/blog/gender-discrimination-in-the-workplace/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/educational-disparities-among-racial-and-ethnic-minority-youth-in-the-united-states
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425845/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/climate-change-matter-justice-heres-why
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from security.org/resources/homeless-statistics/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from carelonbehavioralhealth.com/perspectives/housing-insecurity-and-behavioral-health
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2022/addressing-the-horrors-of-mass-incarceration/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555719/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/food-insecurity
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from frac.org/hunger-poverty-america
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from weforum.org/stories/2023/02/water-scarcity-united-states-un-water-conference/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/technology-and-the-law/bridging-the-digital-divide/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/asylum-united-states
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-workplace-discrimination/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from worldvision.org/child-protection-news-stories/child-labor-facts
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10220277/
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination
- Retrieved on November 8, 2024, from aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/block-the-vote-voter-suppression-in-2020