Throughout society, there has been corruption about equality amongst different ethnic groups, sexual orientation, criminal justice system and more. Innocent people are being killed, minorities are still being harassed, incarcerated, and faced with police brutality from law enforcement officers. The criminal justice system holds millions of people in 50 states. African Americans are the highest percentage of the criminal justice system. Transgender, queer individuals, heterosexuals are committing suicide and bullied by the society we live in. The LGBTQ community is lacking the equality and respect they deserve. There are thousands of individuals from the LGBTQ community trying to commit suicide a year in the United States.
Power is what is needed to create social change within our society and social environment. Power is a key element of social change. In this essay, I will define power in a social change perspective, illustrate the difference between “power with”, and “power you”. Exemplify how power in a social change perspective is a key element to social change within the criminal justice system and the LGBTQ community. Lastly, I will relate how “power over vs power with” relates to me.
Power in a social change standpoint is the ability to change incentive structures of negative criticism, deviant behavior, and actions to create a better outcome. Coming together as one to use our knowledge, body, and soul to help decrease deviant behavior, inequality, and other problems that we face amongst society. It isn’t just amongst one person it’s coming together as one to put forth a constructive social change. The ability to have influence over others to steer individuals to do the right thing.
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“Power over” is a relationship in which an individual has power over another individual, group, or nation. More in-depth one side fights for power over the other. Conceding with each other for a position. Also, using brutal force to have his or her way. Power is a relationship of polarity. Why? Because within “power with” there is a competition amongst each other on what’s right and what’s wrong, different tendencies, and aspects of what’s acceptable in society.
Power with is interpersonal and communal. “Power with” is constructed by an agreement in which all parties act in ways that construct welfare. We all decide on how we all are going to treat each other in a manner that serves us (Honoring each other rights, and the act for the common good). Within power with there is boldness to believe that acting from self-interest isn’t the wisest action to partake, nor an individual or group should be put in a position on what’s best for him or her.
Power in a social change perspective is the key element to social change within the criminal justice system, the LGBTQ community, and the society we live in because it shows how valuable every individual is. This key element is needed to fight against so many issues we face in the world. Coming together and using our knowledge, dedication, voice, and more (Power) is a valuable source to create social change within these two social issues. Most individuals are unbothered about these issues but power amongst others can make these problems become even more noticeable which will bring attention to the public, and more people’s voices will be heard.
Many minorities are incarcerated because we aren’t using our knowledge and power to fight against the criminal justice system. thousands of cases are resolved through plea bargains. There are innocent people that are being arrested and forced to take plea bargains leading them into being incarcerated for several years, and later on suffering from mental illness. Within the criminal justice system lies racism, brutality, long sentencing, and more. African Americans and minorities are sentenced to longer jail time than any other ethnic group. Minorities are continuing to suffer in today’s society because we aren’t using our power to fight against these issues (voices, debates, petitions, and more).
In the LGBTQ community, many individuals face criticism, neglect, and inequality. Despite an individual sex preference, an individual should still be treated with admiration, affection, and equality as any other human being. In today’s society, the LGBTQ community queers are being killed, exposed, beaten, and murdered because of their social orientation (Power over in the LGBTQ community). There have been over hundreds to thousands of murders in the LGBTQ community. An increase in homicides in the LGBTQ community has been increasing within the last two years. Often time they’re denied employment amongst many employers. Power in a social change perspective (Power with) can continue to help voices be heard, open doors, create more resources to end suicides amongst the LGBTQ community and organizations that are against the corruption within the LGBTQ community.
Furthermore, the enforcement of power can create social change within the criminal justice system and LGBTQ community because it creates a movement amongst people to fight against cruel punishment, inequality, disrespect, and more. Social change is an everlasting movement that will take time to pursue but, power is an excellent key tool because if you have power you have some sort of control over the negative things we face in society. It is like a shield fighting and protecting the exploitation in the criminal justice system, the LGBTQ community, and the world we live in. It can create a potent social change movement that will fight against damaging factors we face in society. Innocent people are dying every second of the day due to these issues. Power can help uplift society and create a better social movement to fight against the negative encounters we face in the world. For social change to go into full effect “power” needs to be shared amongst each other not just with one individual. Power needs to be used in a positive perspective to keep everyone on one accord.
Lastly, “power over vs power” over relates to me because within these two social issues I want to have control over the conflicts that are happening within the criminal justice system and LGBTQ community (Power Over). I’m more on the social change side of “Power Over” because people deserve their respect, dignity, and liberty. In order for social change to occur there has to be some positive power or authority over others. Also, there has to be a point in the social change process where you have to remember that everyone deserves to be treated equally regardless of their ethnic group, sexual orientation, and more. “Power with” doesn’t necessarily relate to me because I’m a critical thinker and I want to know the consequences behind my actions. In order to be an agent of social change you have to find a balance between both power and power over because sometimes it can lead to a negative perspective. Continue killing, incarcerating minorities, inequality, and more.
