Lived Experiences of Vulnerable Groups in Social Justice and Equity Policy Implementation

Abstract

Social justice and equity policies aim to address structural inequality and promote fairness for vulnerable populations. However, research has primarily focused on policy design and institutional outcomes, with limited attention to how these policies are experienced by those directly affected. This study explores how vulnerable groups experience, interpret, and respond to the implementation of social justice policies in their everyday lives. An interpretative phenomenological approach was employed to explore participants' lived experiences and the meanings they attach to policy encounters. Data were generated through in-depth interviews with individuals from vulnerable groups and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to identify key experiential themes. The findings show that justice is perceived as emotional and relational, often viewed as distant and conditional despite inclusive policy intentions. Participants described feelings of invisibility, power asymmetry, and emotional burden in interactions with bureaucratic systems. These findings contribute to policy design by emphasizing the need for policies that are not only formally equitable but also experientially just.