Social justice work, we often assume, is raised voices and raised fists. But what does it look like for those of us who don't feel comfortable battling in the trenches? Sustaining justice work can be particularly challenging for the sensitive, and it requires a deep level of self-awareness.
In Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul, writer Dorcas Cheng-Tozun offers six possible pathways for sensitive types: Connectors: relational activists whose interactions and conversations build the social capital necessary for change; Creatives: artists and creators whose work inspires, sheds light, makes connections, and brings issues into the public consciousness; Record Keepers: archivists who preserve essential information and hold our collective memory and history; Builders: inventors, programmers, and engineers who center empathy as they develop society-changing products and technologies; Equippers: educators, mentors, and elders who build skills and knowledge within movements and shepherd the next generation of changemakers; and Researchers: data-driven individuals who utilize information as a persuasive tool to effect change and propose options for improvement.
Cheng-Tozun expands the possibilities of how to have a positive social impact, affirming the particular gifts and talents that sensitive souls offer to a hurting world.