We kick off the Winter of Well-being series by focusing on the intersection of Justice & Well-being.
Justice has a deep and inseparable connection to health and well-being. With all that is happening in our world currently, we find it imperative that we start this series by exploring this intersection.
Please be aware that this page contains references to racial violence and other biased actions.
What are we talking about when we talk about justice?
While multiple definitions and meanings of this word exist, we are approaching this topic in thinking about how we each individually contribute to creating societies that are just, unbiased, and fair. Everyone deserves equal rights and opportunities, including the right to good health and overall well-being.
What are we talking about when we talk about well-being?
Well-being is a holistic view of all of the variables that impact our condition. Our well-being is composed of many dimensions, including the emotional, spiritual, social, physical, environmental, occupational, intellectual, and financial aspects of our lives. Well-being is something we all possess and something that is in constant flux as these dimensions change.
At the intersection of these two concepts, long-standing and deeply rooted inequities exist when we look at individual and community well-being across a variety of identities. These inequities are the result of policies and practices that create an unequal distribution of money, power, and resources among communities based on race, class, gender identity, location, and other factors. Positive health and well-being for all is dependent on having a just society.
We are all impacted by injustices, directly or indirectly, and we all have an important role to play in creating a more just society.