Social Justice Focus Areas: "Isms"

Classism:  Who accumulates wealth and how does that differ from income? · As we consider social outings, have you considered the cost and if those around you can afford more or less than yourself? · Are citizens of a lower class given the same access to resources as individuals of a higher class? · Do you assume that individuals of a lower class are lazy or unintelligent?

Heterosexism:  Do you automatically assume that someone is or would be interested in dating someone of the opposite sex? · Why are homosexuals not allowed to marry and how does this disadvantage them? · Why are people killed because of their sexual orientation?

Ethnocentrism:  Why do we assume that the way we do things in our country or part of the country is the right way, or the only way? · Do you judge other societies by what your culture deems normal? · Why do we fear what we don’t know? · What is the difference between patriotism and ethnocentrism?

Religious Oppression:  Do you assume that everyone celebrates holidays? · Can we embrace the existence of all religions despite a possible difference in beliefs? · Is there an absolute morality that everyone should promote? · Why does anti-Semitism, and other forms of religious oppression, still exist? · Do you contribute or rally against it in the 21st Century?

Ableism:  How accessible is our campus? · Do you consider a mood disorder a disability? · Do you know any students with learning disabilities? · How accessible is your professor’s style of teaching for students with learning disabilities?

Racism:  How can the nation overcome years of enslavement, lynching, internment campaigns, stereotypes and myths? · Do the effects of history still exist today? · Why was Martin Luther King, Jr.’s struggle so poignant for ALL in the United States? · How has racism been institutionalized in this country? · Have you intentionally or unintentionally oppressed a person because of the color of their skin?

Sexism & Genderism:  What is the difference between sex and gender? · Why is this distinction important? · Are you treated differently because of your gender or your sex? · Have you ever been discriminated or threatened because of they way you express your gender?

Ageism:  Are you too young or too old? · Why are young children told to wait until they grow up and older people told they are incompetent? · When does the cycle end?

Environmentalism:  Are you concerned about our environment? · Is this a moral issue? A political issue? · What role do humans play in the protection of our environment?

For answers to these questions and more, please visit the

Social Justice Center!