2. Def’n: The quality of being fair and reasonable
Synonyms: fairness - equity - right - righteousness
– justness
In any situation, be it in a courtroom, at the
workplace or in line at a bank, we want to be
treated fairly.
We shouldn't be judged more harshly because of
our skin color, we shouldn't be paid any less
because of our gender, and we shouldn't have to
wait longer at the bank, because of what we're
wearing.
We feel we deserve equal and impartial treatment.
3. Because we have this desire for equality and
fairness, the assurance of justice is usually a
prerequisite for a good society.
For a leader to have legitimacy among his or
her constituents, he or she must find ways to
ensure that the laws of the land are just and
administered justly.
Of course, history is littered with examples of
governments that were unjust to some
citizens.
4. The question of what's to be done when an
injustice is committed is an important one.
For the offender, justice means that crimes
don't go unpunished, but also that the
punishment fits the crime.
For a victim, justice may be seeing a
criminal put behind bars, or it may be
monetary -- the goal is to make the victim
feel equal again.
5. Justice remains a hard topic to
pin down because people often
disagree over what they deserve
and whether they're receiving it.
In such disagreements, we want
reasonable and impartial
decisions made, which is why the
images of justice personified
often include a blindfold.
When people feel that they aren't
getting their due, then society
may become unstable.
6. An hockey planner is suspended for 10
games for using a banned substance
because it was thought to give him an
unfair advantage. The player insists that it
came from a product used to grow his hair.
Is this scenario an example of justice or
injustice?
7. For each of the following scenarios, decide
whether it is “Justice” or an “Injustice”, and explain
why you think it is Justice or an Injustice.
Your explanations should try to get to the heart of
what Justice is.
Don’t just say, “because it was wrong”, OR
“because it was right”, these answers are
insufficient.
Explain in thoughtful detail.
Your responses will be calculated and shown later
on and we will discuss the results in class.
8. A woman is required by her employer to
wear makeup (blush, powder, lipstick, and
mascara) as part of the "appearance
guidelines" of the company. She is fired
for refusing to comply with the policy.
Justice: 48%
Injustice: 52%
Other: 0%
9. During a time of war, men can be
conscripted (forced) to go to battle (if the
government says they have to), but
women cannot be forced.
Justice: 45%
Injustice: 55%
Other: 0%
10. Men's football programs at most major
universities are given 10 times the amount
of money given to women's
basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse
programs combined.
Justice: 36%
Injustice: 64%
Other: 0%
11. Convicted sex offenders (child molesters)
must register with local police. Their
names are available on the Internet, and
police go door to door and notify
immediate neighbours.
Justice: 82%
Injustice: 15%
Other: 3%
12. Aboriginal Canadians were removed from
their homeland by white settlers and put on
reservations.
Justice: 12%
Injustice: 88%
Other: 0%
13. All students, regardless of their religious
beliefs, are required to stand during the
national anthem, which includes the
phrase “God keep our land…”
Justice: 76%
Injustice: 24%
Other: 0%
14. A worker who wears a low cut blouse, a
mini skirt, and lots of makeup gets hit on
by her boss. He invites her to dinner and
says she’ll be “sure to get a satisfactory
rating.” She files a sexual harassment
complaint and the boss is fired.
Justice: 70%
Injustice: 30%
Other: 0%
15. A woman is beaten by her husband
repeatedly. She doesn’t leave him, she
just kills him. She is convicted of first
degree murder and sent to prison for life.
Justice: 79%
Injustice: 21%
Other: 0%
16. A student with dyslexia (A learning disorder
marked by impairment of the ability to
recognize and comprehend written words)
is given an unlimited amount of time to
take the SAT, whereas “regular” students
are given only 3 hours.
Justice: 76%
Injustice: 24%
Other: 0%
17. People in wheelchairs are given prime
parking spots, reserved just for them,
closest to the entrance of buildings.
Justice: 100%
Injustice: 0%
Other: 0%
18. A father is jailed for killing the men who
raped his daughter.
Justice: 79%
Injustice: 18%
Other: 3%
19. Gay couples are allowed to get married.
Justice: 91%
Injustice: 6%
Other: 3%
20. People in Toronto aren’t allowed to smoke
in bars.
Justice: 82%
Injustice: 15%
Other: 3%
21. Women are allowed to get abortions in the
first trimester of their pregnancy.
Justice: 42%
Injustice: 55%
Other: 3%