Social justice is not some buzzword and it certainly is bigger than some trending hashtag. Social justice is about equality for all, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. Now more than ever, it is important for businesses to take social justice into account.
Businesses both small and large have to take a deeper look at themselves and ask: what is our role and how do we engage in social justice? How do we build equity, diversity, and inclusion into our practices? How do we use the platform that we have to advocate change? Here are a few ways to incorporate social justice into a business.
Take a Stand
One of the biggest reasons businesses keep from making an impact in social matters is a fear of upsetting the boat. But if you believe in the power of social justice and want to make things better, you can’t make everyone happy.
Rock the boat and be prepared to lose a few people. That is okay. It will show your remaining customers and the world at large that you are serious about making a positive change.
Vote with Your Dollar
Having a strong stance is great, as it is to vote when election day rolls around. But you can also choose to vote with your money.
Take a look at the businesses that you support or the vendors that you buy from. Do they have a social mission? Do they work with or against economically or socially marginalized groups? Even if you don’t spend that much, every dollar matters. Let those businesses know that they will not have your support.
Inform and Inspire
The spread of information is one of the most important aspects of implementing social justice. But the simple fact of the matter is that far too many people are ignorant to the issues. So, how can we help to foster social justice? Spread the word.
Use your platform to spread information about social issues and where your company stands. It will not only spread that information, but your company will be one of the names attached to the positive spreading of that information.