RESPONDING TO SOCIAL JUSTICE RHETORIC | A Cheat Sheet for Policy Makers
SOCIAL
JUSTICE
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Group entitlements
WHICH IS…
• The reframing of particular
political demands as universal
moral imperatives
• A denial of just rewards to
individuals who follow the law
CRITICAL
RACE THEORY
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Belief that people of European descent
make society racist for their own benefit
WHICH IS…
• The view that racism is baked
into the system and inescapable
• The view that racism is present
even if no one is racist
• The view that all disparities in group
outcomes are due to racist systems
DIVERSITY
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
An identity-based approach to society;
includes only those who agree with
Social Justice
WHICH IS…
• A violation of individual identity;
enforced intellectual conformity
• Political quotas; an attack on merit
and a form of soft bigotry
EQUITY
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Equality of outcomes plus reparations
WHICH IS…
• A violation of equality before the law
• A dismantling of the foundations
of a free society
• State management of society
by redistributing resources,
opportunity, and access
INCLUSION
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Restricted speech and justification
for purges
WHICH IS…
• Making people feel “welcomed” by
banning anything they find offensive
• An attack on freedoms of
association and speech
• An enforced separation of people
by race (“neo-segregation”)
BIPOC FOLX
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Non-European people
WHICH IS…
• Used for neo-racist policies
(racism reborn as “progressive”)
and stereotypes
IMPLICIT BIAS
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Unconscious bigotry as a result of
socialization by oppressive systems
WHICH IS…
• Shown not to be significant on behavior
above age 12
• Mind-reading that always finds
what it seeks
DECOLONIZATION
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Removing European influence
WHICH IS…
• An attempt to delegitimize the U.S.
as a “colonial project”
• Replacing universal equality
with illiberal non-European “traditions”
RACIAL JUSTICE
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Racial favoritism
WHICH IS…
• Using anti-discrimination laws
for unrelated political purposes
• A violation of equality before the law
• Neo-racist (racism reborn as
“progressive”); group stereotyping
CULTURAL
COMPETENCE
OR RELEVANCE
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Catering to stereotypes associated
with identity groups
WHICH IS…
• A blank check to tell people that they
are not sufficiently “culturally aware”
and must modify their behavior
• Indoctrination in Critical Race Theory;
neo-racism
• An ineffective method with
no scientific evidence
DISCRIMINATION
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Judgement based on experience, facts,
predictions, and preferences
WHICH IS…
• Claimed to be inexcusable when exercised
with respect to “minoritized” groups
unless it makes them better off
• Claimed to be required against“privileged”
groups to “level the playing field”
• A tool to achieve “equity”
• Illegal
ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Environmental issues are race issues
WHICH IS…
• Using environmental protection
for unrelated political purposes
• An ineffective and inefficient way to
protect the environment
WHITE PRIVILEGE /
SUPREMACY
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
European moral culpability
WHICH IS…
• Racist scapegoating, especially against
economically disadvantaged Europeans
• Neo-racist (racism reborn as
“progressive”); group stereotyping
SYSTEMIC RACISM
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Differences in outcome are always
due to systemic biases
WHICH IS…
• An attribution of group differences
to vague “systems” imposed by others
• An attempt to “dismantle” freedoms
and to forcibly redistribute public
and private goods
MICRO-
AGGRESSION
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Small slights perceived as bigotry
WHICH IS…
• Weaponizing the taking of offense
to control others
• Putting perceived impact above
actual intentions
• Claiming that normal, everyday
interactions are bigotry
HATE SPEECH
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
An expression of opinion that the accuser
finds objectionable
WHICH IS…
• Usually constitutionally protected speech
• Usually a reflection of political differences
rather than an expression of hatred
• A way to restrict the speech of others
by claiming it poses a danger
ACCOUNTABILITY
WHAT THEY MEAN IS…
Using institutional and social power
to force compliance
WHICH IS…
• Bullying
• Mob rule
• Heckler’s veto
OREGON ASSOCIATION OF SCHOLARS | DRS. BRUCE GILLEY, PETER BOGHOSSIAN, & JAMES LINDSAY
