Throughout time, the focus of what social justice means to different groups of people has changed gradually as society has become more complicated as well as aware of injustices. In the early 19th century, social justice was primarily focused on economic fairness; since then, it has shifted to include other important things such as environment, gender, race, and other manifestations of inequality.

Social justice aims to right the wrongs that have been ever-present in recent times as well as times well past — but hopefully not the future.