Have you ever been curious about the meaning of SJW? Check out this article for the definition of SJW, its usage, example sentences, and more!
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Kevin
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February 2, 2022
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Common Questions
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What Does the Abbreviation SJW Stand For?
The term SJW stands for social justice warrior. This is a pejorative term that is used to refer to someone who is a political progressive.
This is often lobbed at feminists, liberals, progressives, and supporters of other elements of identity politics and social progressivism like the transgender community, cultural inclusivity, safe spaces, trigger warnings, the LGBT community, and political correctness.
While people in the social justice blogosphere want to create a better world, it is a stereotype that they are not actual activists but instead keyboard warriors. Keyboard warriors engage in hostile debates on a range of issues and use self-righteous rhetorics to fight against social injustice.
It is said that a SJW’s favorite activity is to dogpile on others, using emotions during their accusations against racists. Often, it is a stereotype that they do not express arguments in a thought-out way and simply rage against others in a thread.
Where Is the Term SJW Used?
The SJW moniker is a pejorative label that is often used by conservatives and the alt-right on platforms such as their favorite websites, 4Chan and Reddit.
They believe that these heinous social justice warriors don’t really believe in social justice activism but only have this conviction behind a keyboard to look good or maintain a reputation, as well as for their own personal validation. The main accusation of SJWs is that they do not use logic or ethics but rather emotions and perceived virtue in their arguments.
All stereotypes can be bad and go too far. Many people who are liberals and progressives are not social justice warriors who simply sit behind a keyboard and fight against conservatives online all day. Many of them take real action to fight against injustice in the real world.
On the flip side, not all conservatives are racists or even anti-progressives. It is important to recognize that the depiction we see of both sides of the political spectrum is a reflection of media and storytelling. Stereotypes can be harmful on all sides.
Other Meanings of the Term SJW
The Free Dictionary states that SJW can also be an acronym for other definitions besides social justice warrior. If you see this term being used to describe a feminist on the internet, it probably means social justice warrior.
However, if you see this term being used in a context where social justice warrior would not make sense as a definition, there is a possibility that it can stand for something else.
Take a look at this list of potential meanings of the acronym SJW. If you hear someone using this acronym and you are unsure of the meaning, don’t be afraid to ask!
- Shijiazhuang, China – Shijiazhuang (Airport Code)
- South Jersey Wheelmen Cycling Club (New Jersey; est. 1979)
- St. Joseph the Worker
- St John’s Wort
- Single Jewish Woman
- Stanford Jazz Workshop (est. 1972; Stanford, CA)
- Socialistische Jonge Wacht (Dutch: Socialist Youth Guard; Socialist Workers Party youth organization)
- Synchronization Jump Width
- St. Johns Wood (UK)
What Is the Origin and Usage of the Term SJW?
According to the Washington Post, the term social justice warrior became popular during the GamerGate controversy and backlash against popular blogger from Feminist Frequency’s Anita Sarkeesian in 2014.
The term SJW was added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2015. The Feminist Media Studies noted this. The groups of people against the SJWs came out as a mob of trolls against Sarkeesian, attacking her online.
This term came from the gaming community to label progressives, usually women, as unwelcome outsiders to the gaming community. The term skyrocketed in the gaming journalism sphere, with journalists defining it left and right.
The term did not start out as an insult during its inception in the late 20th century. In 1991, it was used as a compliment and positive term to refer to a person with progressive politics, such as in the below quote from the Montreal Gazette:
“Quebec guitarist Rene Lussier will present the world premiere of his ambitious Quebecois mood piece Le Tresor de la Langue, which juxtaposes the spoken word — including sound bites from Charles de Gaulle and Quebec nationalist and social-justice warrior Michel Chartrand — with new-music noodlings.”
When Did SJW’s Connotation Change?
Until the mid-2010s, this term was used as a neutral or complimentary term. While a few negative uses popped up over the years, it did not become an insult until it was co-opted by the gaming community.
Some say that it might have its origins in TV Tropes terms, such as Soapbox Sadie. This theme morphed into Social Justice Sally, an old Tumblr meme from 2012, which then morphed into the more generic term social justice warrior.
2011 seemed to be the real turning point for SJW from a positive to a negative, as that is when it was first posted on Urban Dictionary with a derogatory definition. Here, an SJW was described as someone who engages in arguments on social justice on the Internet largely for their own personal reputation.
It is said that they only adopt stances that their social circle deem correct and dogpile on others. It is important to note that the definition on Urban Dictionary also states that they are only civil rights activists online.
Conclusion
Overall, the term SJW is a derogatory term that stands for social justice warrior. This is used to describe progressive bloggers who often fight against conservatives online.
The stereotype of a social justice warrior is that they use ethos and pathos as arguments. This term is considered to be offensive, so steer clear of it in everyday usage.
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