"SJW" is an acronym for "Social Justice Warrior." It's a term commonly used derogatorily in reference to people who stand up for equal social rights for marginalized groups. It's also complete nonsense.
Take the phrase "social justice warrior" at face value and it immediately becomes apparent why it is such a silly insult. A warrior is someone who fights, and true justice is by definition something that is objectively positive. So the term "social justice warrior" implies that someone is batting for justice. By the very definition of the words, the phrase is hardly an insult, so how is it that calling someone out for fighting for what is right became a thing?
The negative connotation of the term stems mainly from backlash against movements and ideologies such as feminism, civil rights, and political correctness. Various detractors will list different reasons for disagreeing with these movements, often coming down to a fundamental misunderstanding as to what they stand for. They often work under an assumption that such movements limit their own liberties when in fact they only ask for fairness toward all people. Another common misconception is that these ideologies espouse superiority of the groups they stand for and that they have a warped view on equality. In truth, these movements do advocate equality, and oftentimes detractors are the ones who fail to understand the true nature of oppression. Ultimately, these detractors often resort to using the term "SJW" as a way to undercut the stances they disagree with. As such, the term has become emblematic of a fundamental misunderstanding of what social justice movements truly stand for.
Finally, as debates on social issues have come to a head in the internet age, the term "SJW" has become little more than an overused buzzword. Any shred of legitimacy behind the term has evaporated as it gets thrown at nearly every piece of media for nearly any reason. In just the past few weeks, I have seen the term used in reference to the creative teams behind "Ghostbusters," "Suicide Squad," "Sausage Party," and more. There isn't even consistency in how it gets thrown around. Almost anything featuring a female lead or any adaptation that casts a person of color in a white role becomes a target. It's hard to take the term seriously when it gets applied to nearly all of the big films coming out.
The term "SJW" is used contradictory to it's meaning, symbolizes a small-minded understanding of social issues, and has lost meaning due to overuse. It's a baseless insult and one of the more inarticulate ways to back an argument. We as a people need to evaluate who is fighting for social justice and why before we start throwing out insults. And "SJW" is one insult that needs to go away soon.
