ABSTRACT
This chapter examines major civil rights policies and some of the challenges advocates still face in their attempts to secure civil rights for specific oppressed groups. It also focuses on broader issues of social justice. Social justice refers to the equitable distribution of societal resources to all people as well as equity and fairness in the social, economic, and political spheres. The chapter offers a brief overview of the recent and current status of various oppressed groups, building on the historical base. It focuses more narrowly on key laws and court rulings directed toward securing and expanding the basic rights of marginalized groups in the US The chapter shows changes in affirmative action and in other policies and programs have differential effects on women and men. It examines disparities in poverty rates, retirement programs, and employment for women and people of color. The chapter talks about language differences, cultural distance, and the impact of "neutral" policies.
