Social (In)Justice

There are many social injustices in the novel Matched, but among all the bad, there is some good as well.

Social Justices

• Discrimination
• In this future world, there seems to be no discrimination. Everyone is equal (or so it seems) and no one is treated differently because of their skin colour (even though there is no 'race'), gender, religion (there is none), clothing (as everyone wears the same thing), or sexual orientation (there is none other than the 'normal')
• Distribution of Wealth
• Even though the leaders of the Society obviously have the most power, that is where the 'unequal distribution of wealth' ends. In this society, there is no money; nothing to trade. You work, but you don't get paid directly. You and your family get food, clothing, schools and recreational activities. Everyone has the same things as everyone else, and there is no 'higher class' in the society.

However, every perfect society has its imperfections.

Social Injustices

• Distribution of Power
• When there is no money to be earned, knowledge is the most powerful thing. To quote the book, "Knowledge doesn't fail us."
• The more you know, the more you are likely to see that what the Society is doing is wrong, and the more you will want to rebel. So, instead of telling people the truth; that free will is something everyone should have, and it should never be traded for a long life.
• The Society worked for years and years to build a perfect place to live in where everyone is equal, yet have no control over their lives.
• Inhumane treatment of criminals
• The fact that one can be banished into the 'Outer Provinces' for a crime they didn't commit is a large issue in the book. However, being banished is not the only thing that happens to you when you commit a crime. The Society takes you to the Outer Provinces before you are killed off, forgotten by your peers.
• Jobs
• As 'perfect' as the jobs are, they are still given out according to 'status'. If you are an Aberration, you get the toughest jobs not meant for other members of the Society. For example, Ky is put to work (earlier than all his friends) at the food disposal factory, where, even though gloves are worn, the hot water burns his skin.
• Eliminating the Individual
• Without the power to think, do or act as one wishes, one doesn't have any individuality.
• You are not free to be your own person, but must do everything according to plan and careful predictions of other people.
• No freedom of speech, expression or will