CHENG-TOZUN, DORCAS. Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul: How to Change the World in Quiet Ways. Minneapolis, MN: Broadleaf Books, 2023. Pp. 227. $26.99 (US).
In her book, Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul: How to Change the World in Quiet Ways, author Dorcas Cheng-Tozun sets out to shine a light on the particular ways her primary audience—sensitive souls or Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs)—are wired to engage the work of social justice and activism. Cheng-Tozun writes as one on the ongoing journey of self-discovery and offers her readers hope through sharing what she has learned along the way, almost as if she has penned the book she wished she’d had.
The book’s content is presented in three sections. Each chapter concludes with a series of reflection questions to guide readers in applying the contents of the chapter practically to their own lived experience. These questions could be used as part of a book study with a small group of people, likely most useful for a gathering of other sensitive souls.
In Part I, Cheng-Tozun defines “the sensitive soul” and makes a case that the shape of the personalities in this group brings something unique and valuable to social justice and activism. She spotlights society’s bias toward the stereotypical activist—determined, forceful, blow-horn wielding extroverts with unending passion and energy—and attempts to affirm those not wired that way who nevertheless feel equally called to work for justice.
Sustainability can be difficult when the work of activism feels as if it’s never done, or that there’s always another hill to climb. But the sensitive soul can embody and model a contemplative approach to justice work that honors the humanness, both of those doing the work and the “least of these” whom the work is serving.
The author suggests how a nuanced, sustainable approach to activism can honor the limitations and unique contributions of the sensitive activist. “Restorative activism” balances energy given to the “cause” with compassion that honors the ones whose suffering the cause is meant to alleviate, creating greater capacity for the sensitive soul to exhibit the kind of “suffering with” compassion that they are uniquely designed to offer.
In Part II, Cheng-Tozun offers a helpful framework of what, who, when, and where for her sensitive soul readers to discern how to authentically pursue their unique call and place in social justice work.
The information presented in this section is extremely practical and applicable to general audience, not just HSPs:
Finding your own way in social justice work requires courage, creativity, wisdom, and an openness to possibility. It requires shaking off the unhealthy and unrealistic expectations of others. It asks us to embrace our differences as beautiful and our unique personalities and perspectives as gifts, rather than comparing ourselves to others. It requires discernment: knowing when to step into the arena and when to step back, when to forge a new path and when to walk a well-worn trail. When we respond to what our bodies, hearts, life circumstances, and environments tell us about how we can sustainably and meaningfully serve the public good—in that moment, we have all we need and bring exactly who we are (69).
Everyone can benefit from this wisdom.
Part III zeroes in on a variety of specific contexts in which the sensitive soul could contribute and thrive. Cheng-Tozun spotlights real-life sensitive souls doing social justice work, sparking an imagination for sensitive souls who long to do social justice work while purposefully leveraging and guarding their sensitivities.
More than a few times in this section, the author cites studies or tells stories that don’t seem to directly connect, as if she uncovered so many interesting nuggets of information in her research for the book that she just couldn’t help trying to fit in as much as possible.
Throughout the book, Cheng-Tozun’s focus is largely on preventive measures, how to avoid burnout and learn to thrive in social justice work in a way that honors the contributions of the empath’s quiet, sensitive passions. Those who find themselves in the thick of the struggle may be met with less guidance and help in the scope of this book.
“To be a sensitive, empathic soul engaged in social justice is not an easy calling by any measure. The pain . . . we experience as we engage with suffering, oppression, poverty, and injustice is real. It can be searing. . . . But hopefully, after dusting yourself off, you can find a way to keep getting up and walking forward, empowered with greater understanding for who you are and your place in the story of positive social progress” (p. 189). Hope is her antidote to the struggle, but she doesn’t offer any practical means to foster or produce that. It seems she is simply suggesting the reader have it or to muster it up somehow.
In an effort to elevate and champion the sensitive soul, Cheng-Tozun at times inadvertently diminishes the non-sensitive population, creating a false binary of sensitives and non-sensitives, which is a bit off-putting and arguably unfair, especially to the non-sensitive types. This is unfortunate because Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul is a valuable resource, not just for those who identify as sensitive souls but also for anyone with general interest in following Jesus and pursuing peace with deep compassion for a hurting world.
Regardless of the sensitive/non-sensitive category a person falls under, each one is on a journey of discovery. Each person represents a complex combination of strengths and weaknesses, of raw and developed talent, of background and experience that requires a unique application and discernment of call to rightly steward what we bring to the table. Certainly, the nuggets offered in this book are quite applicable to a broader audience than intended.
The author asserts that: “Social change is propelled by many people doing many different things that nudge us toward fairer and more inclusive societies. Yet many of us persist in thinking that some approaches are better than others, more real than others, more legitimate than others. We imagine that there is a quintessential version of what an activist should be like and what that activist should do” (33). This is one of the book’s primary gifts: creating an imagination for the inclusion of a variety of personalities and approaches to social justice and activism.