When you encounter injustice, what lies within your power to change it, and what responsibility follows from having that power?

The highlight of the week was the discussion on justice led by Ben and Anjali, from the Oxford Character Project. I think that when we encounter injustice, we have the responsibility to respond appropriately to it. We may not have the power to change the all the systemic and structural barriers that may uphold injustice, but taking individual action even in a single scenario can be enough to change the views of those around (or at least invite reflection) and by aligning your actions with your values, it can help strengthen your character which is important for leadership. Watching a clip from the film "Hidden Figures" offered a fresh perspective as to how leadership and justice interact. Watching the character, Katherine, take the courageous stance to challenge the systemic barriers showed that displaying leadership qualities is not restricted to those who are already leaders/in positions of power. 

The issue of what justice really means was raised. I found myself leaning towards the idea of justice being similar to fairness, particularly in situations where solutions are needed to remedy a wrong that has occurred. Furthermore, it was interesting to compare concepts of equality, equity and justice. These ideas can often be conflated, but I think drawing a distinction between them is needed to ensure that their effects are felt. Anjali also raised an important point that simply knowing what is just is not enough - it's also about having the courage to put those values into action when the situation arises. Being just only when you're alone is not an effective mechanism for true leadership. Anjali also invited us to read "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell. I really enjoyed reading this piece as it brought in what I think is often overlooked when discussing the actions we make. The character's justification of not wanting to look like a "fool" in front of 2000 people was quite relatable. I think people can often be driven by the reactions and opinions of others instead of doing what they know to be right. 

Week 5 focused on bringing our report together which I think we have made substantial progress in. On Monday, we also started our designs for our research posters which will be displayed at the conference later this year. It was refreshing being able to use creative skills to display what I hope will be some interesting results. As for the rest of our research, we are yet to receive the data that we’ve requested and have had to make use of what we currently have access to. However, during the week, we spoke to our Impact Advisor, who was able to offer some guidance as to how we can make the best out of what we have.