Definition of Marginalized GroupA group of people in a society that have been disadvantaged or excluded from certain social, economic, political and cultural pursuits.
Marginalized groups are a central theme of social justice which is the pursuit of a fair society based on elements such as rights, freedoms and mutual respect and compassion. The following are common examples of marginalized groups.Age | Caste |
Criminal Record | Disability |
Education Level | Employment Status |
Ethnicity | Family Structure |
Gender | Geographic Location |
Health Status | Immigration Status |
Language | Physical Characteristics |
Race | Religion |
Sexual Orientation | Socioeconomic Status |
Discrimination
Discrimination is the unfair or differential treatment of someone based on some aspect of their social identity. This can also be based on the social stigma attached to certain life experiences such as unemployment or mental health issues.This has two main types: systemic and interpersonal discrimination. Systemic discrimination is built into the power structures of a society such as employment discrimination based on age, race or gender. Interpersonal discrimination is when people treat you unfairly or differently in social situations based on aspects of your identity or some social stigma they attach to you.Discrimination generates marginalization as it often represents a disadvantage in social, economic, political and cultural life.Traditional Practices
Traditional practices such as gender roles or caste systems are another common source of marginalization whereby these systems restrict what a person can do based on elements of their social identity.Tyranny of the Majority
The tyranny of the majority is a danger of democratic systems whereby a political majority may marginalize minority groups. Democracies are designed for majority rule but minority groups are protected with a system of constitutional rights and freedoms that limit what the majority can do. This needs to be endlessly defended as a majority will try to shape society to benefit themselves often at the exclusion of others. The process of defending minority rights in a democracy is known as social justice.Marginalized Groups vs Minority Groups
In a democracy, the majority rules such that, in theory, a majority will run things and shape society to their benefit. As such, marginalized groups are often minorities and the two concepts overlap quite a bit. This being said, it is possible for a majority to be a marginalized group. For example, woman are more than 50% of the population in practically every nation due to their generally longer life expectancy than men. However, in many societies they do not hold as much economic or political power as men and are viewed as a marginalized group.Degrees of Marginalization
Practically everyone ends up in a marginalized group in some context or at some point in their life. For example, if the elderly are viewed as a marginalized group, then everyone who survives long enough will become marginalized. This certainly has different levels of severity and impact whereby some people are almost completely excluded from the core processes of a society while others have a relatively minor disadvantage.Intersectionality
Intersectionality is the fact that everyone has multiple aspects to their identity such that they can belong to privileged groups and disadvantaged groups at the same time. This can begin to resemble a scorecard of marginalization whereby you are categorized as having advantages and disadvantages.Identity Politics
Identity politics is the assumption that people vote and act politically based on aspects of their identity such as race and gender. This is based on critical theory and the view that people aren't cooperative and compassionate but are more or less power seeking entities that seek to oppress others. Marginalization and intersectionality are central themes of identity politics that focuses on the social identity of politicians as opposed to the content of their character or the nature of their policies.Summary
Marginalized groups are populations in a society that face disadvantages or exclusion in aspects of social, political, economic and cultural life. Constitutional democracies are specifically structured to prevent this from happening with rights and freedoms designed to prevent majority rule from oppressing minority groups. Nevertheless, marginalization can persist in a democracy with robust constitutional rights due to factors such as discrimination.
