Understanding Social Exclusion

Social exclusion occurs when certain groups of people are disadvantaged in some way, typically due to a combination of factors such as unemployment, financial hardship, race, gender, etc.

Social exclusion can have a negative impact on the wellbeing of those affected, leading to poverty, social isolation, and a decreased sense of self-worth.

There are three dimensions to social exclusion: economic deprivation, spatial deprivation, and identity-based exclusion.

Identity-based exclusion is the most common type, as it affects groups of people who are defined by shared cultural practices and identities (such as caste, ethnicity, and religion).

Social exclusion can also affect individuals who are defined by a single shared characteristic (such as gender, disability, or HIV status).

Exclusionary processes and outcomes can persist over time, often due to the cumulative effects of multiple stresses on the livelihoods of excluded groups.

The idea of social exclusion has been broadened to include social and political deprivation.

Concepts such as agency, power, and identity are becoming more important in analyses of development processes.

Social exclusion can refer to different levels of deprivation, including economic, social, and political.