Final answer:
The social justice movement encompasses efforts made by various activists and organizations to achieve a fairer society by addressing social inequalities. Its broad focus spans racial, economic, health, and gender inequalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social justice movement is a broad term that covers efforts to address and remedy social inequalities and injustices across various domains of society. Its supporters have historically come from a wide range of backgrounds, including activists, religious organizations, labor unions, and other groups and individuals committed to creating a fairer society.
Within these movements, the focus of social service casework often shifted according to the prevailing issues of the time. For instance, during the Progressive Era, the settlement house movement spearheaded by activists like Jane Addams aimed to provide essential services to working-class families and address rampant discrimination and poverty. The goal was not only to alleviate immediate suffering but also to work towards long-term institutional reform. Similarly, the struggle for civil rights that individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. undertook was not only about achieving legal equality but also about compelling societies to understand and address racism, poverty, militarism, and materialism as interrelated issues.
The Social Gospel Movement encouraged people to apply Christian ethics to solve societal problems and inspired many to serve the poor directly, while also prompting a reevaluation of issues like labor reform and income inequality. The movement's legacy can be seen in various religious and secular organizations' continued efforts towards charity and advocacy for social justice.