Building Equality and Justice Now Promoting Conceptions of Equality and Justice among Public Services Students through Sociological and Socio-psychological Module Content

Promoting conceptions of equality and justice among Public Services students is essential due to their future roles in society, and the varying demographics of the people they will be required to support. Designing and delivering module content to student cohorts, especially where the majority are from fairly homogenous backgrounds (in this case the South Wales Valleys), presents some unique challenges; however, these challenges can be overcome by supporting students’ critical thinking skills, and drawing on a combination of sociological and sociopsychological theories. For example, considering the impact of stop and search and the disproportionate use of such powers with young Black males, will lead to a greater awareness of issues related to racism and justice, yet this can be done not only by explaining sociological concepts, such as those related to structural inequalities, but also through social psychology and fostering empathy; in essence, encouraging students to ‘walk in the shoes of others.’ In addition, exploring social class and intersectionality from a sociological perspective, alongside explaining socio-psychological theories on in-groups and outgroups when discussing prejudiced and racist attitudes, can have a powerful impact. Furthermore, utilising elements of
social psychology assists in teaching about unconscious bias and provides a useful starting point for self-reflection. This kind of combined approach to teaching and learning, which encourages exploring feelings and attitudes, as well as examining factual evidence and theories, provides a positive starting point for graduates to enter the workplace with a clearer idea of fairness, or equality versus inequality and justice versus injustice.