Social
exclusion, a concept molded in the late 20th centuries has attracted
a good number of social scholars who are out to critique the concept and align
it with the 21st century developments. This concept that was first
coined in France is used widely in the world to depict the various types of
social disadvantages. Moreover, the concept has attracted different definitions
from different scholars. According to Butler and Watt (2007), social exclusion
can be defined as processes that block basic individual or community rights,
gags opportunities and basic resources that are often readily available to
habitants of a society and vital to the wellbeing and social integration of a
people. In other words, social exclusion deprives individuals off their rights
and freedoms to full engage on social aspects of the society i.e. in matters
politics, social and economic. The aforementioned deprivation is presence
despite them being residence of a given society. In the contemporary modern
society, equality is a cardinal right that ought to be enjoyed by every human
being. However, grave social deprivations disadvantage certain individuals and
communities in the society from enjoying this right. These social disadvantages
have persisted through time and not even government legislations have managed
to crack this puzzle. Government legislation often seeks to advance a climate
where equality can thrive. However, inequalities in matters gender, race,
religion, age and sex has persisted overtime, replicating itself in other
generations (Levitas 2005). These disadvantages that gag social equality
manifest themselves in the daily lives of humans i.e. in matters health,
education and other aspects that relate with the access of basic commodities.
This essay seeks to ascertain the meaning of social exclusion in a wider
perspective
Social exclusion has no definite meaning. This implies
that the meaning of the phrase is different between one nation and another. For
example, in the European Union, the definitions of the phrase social exclusion
is largely based on the notion of ideology and the national understanding of
what to be a member and resident of a
society means. However, the criterion used differs from one place to another
and from one geographical region to another. Despite advancing guidelines on
how to define the term, the European Union has been flexible in respecting the
freedoms of scholars who have utilized it well to come up with wide range of
definitions. The specifics and the complexity nature of the concept have also
placed different nations at different stages in addressing the issue (Gordon et
al. 2000). Therefore, social exclusion can be dissected from two angles,
individual and the community or else collective angle. For the first instance,
social exclusion implies the curtailing of and individual ability to access or
else utilize the large pool of opportunities presented by the society. On the
second instance, social exclusion can be said to be a cancer that digests the
social bonds responsible for the gluing or bonding of a society. It can as well
be said that the social cohesion enjoyed by members of a society is largely
tested by the presence of social classes. These are relationships between
people with high end incomes and the larger populace of the lower carder who
are often fighting to make ends meet (Wilkinson & Pickett 2009).
Social
exclusion is a wide and broad concept as it brings together all aspect that
largely disadvantages or isolates an individual or community from the society.
The wide range of factors is way above poverty as they include unemployment
related issues as well as participation in social issues. In the 21st
century, the persistent increase in the number of individuals excluded from
employment showcases a real hitch on matters related to social coexistence. For
example, the more a person who is willing and able to work is locked out of
employment the more that individual is socially excluded i.e. by not being able
to cope with the ever increasing cost of living. These individuals are unable
to afford basic goods and commodities that put them on an equal platform with
the rest of the society. In addition,
the social networking of an individual is largely slashed as one is unable to
bond socially with his colleagues due to financial dent or social stigma due to
unemployment. Inability to bond with social networks and that of not being able
to afford basic life needs widens the isolation gap as one tends to lose
confidence (Hills & Stewart 2005).
Poor health and social exclusion tend to work hand in
hand. Human beings that are challenged physically or mentally are unable to
participate fully in society. Often, Inability to contribute to the society due
to poor health leads to exclusion. Persons born with defects face the wrath of
the society as they are often viewed as liabilities. Socially excluded
individuals are unable to access quality healthcare. From the aforementioned,
it is apparent that poor health can bring about the exclusion of an individual
from the society. In addition, social exclusion can hamper an individual quest
for quality healthcare. In the other hand, homelessness and inability to enjoy
shelter brews social exclusion. Poor housing units, limited basic amenities,
poor drainage, overcrowding are some common features of the disadvantaged
populace and the same is replicated across economies (Lupton 2003). These
individuals are unable to enjoy sound amenities, a thing that is basic to other
individuals or commodities. Shelter, just like food and clothing are basic
human needs. Therefore, access to quality shelter is a cardinal need to any
human being. This implies that the absence of affordable and quality housing units
lead to social exclusion as a person will be limited to overcrowded zones where
amenities are limited and environmental problems are in their numbers.
Poverty has often been identified as a catalyst of social
exclusion. Policy makers have been swift in trying to combat the same to ensure
that individuals and communities are not discriminated against other members of
a society. According to Townsend (1979), inequality is an agglomeration of
disparities in the distribution and allocation of resources amongst individuals
in a society. The aforementioned advances a picture relating to the disparities
in the allocation and distribution of incomes between individuals of lower
carder and those in the higher one i.e. between the rich and the poor. Another
form of decrypting the level of inequalities between the rich and the poor is
looking at the minimum wage rates. Often, the rich are much favored than the
poor. These economic inequalities largely affect the consumption of
commodities, both quality and quantity by individuals and families. Individuals
under the captivity of poverty are underprivileged as they are unable to raise
funds to purchase basic services. However, those who have limited ability are
limited to the purchase of basic food stuffs and housing units, this leaves
them with minimal disposable income inhibits further purchases. In contrast,
persons with high income levels are able to afford both basic needs and wants
i.e. leisure activities. Therefore, social inequality is one aspect that
encompasses a wide range of inequalities that otherwise define social classes
and status. Furthermore, social inequality is entwined with social exclusion.
This is so because it restricts or else curtails individuals’ form getting
involved fully in the daily running of the society (Townsend & Gordon 2002).
Social exclusion cannot be limited to material poverty of
an individual or a community as it encompasses other wide aspects of social
disadvantages (Townsend & Gordon 2002). In addition, the causes of social
exclusion cannot be limited to social disadvantages i.e. those associated with
poverty because the reasons behind an individual or community exclusion are
wide. For example, Immigrants, ethnic minorities, the physically challenged or
even the aged can be discriminated against. In short, the reasons behind a
social exclusion are diverse and cannot be limited to only material issues. Different
school of thought has been advanced by different scholars in the recent past as
far as social exclusion is concerned. According to Pierson (2002), exclusion is
not an end in itself but a process. This implies that social exclusion is not a
result of an action but it is an action in itself. Due to its dynamic nature,
it is relatively difficult to compare the relationship between issues that lead
to exclusion over a long period of time. That is, bringing together these
social disadvantages may lead to the development of a cycle which makes it infeasible
to ascertain the factor that lead to a given exclusion. Considering that social
exclusion is a process, different individuals in the society find themselves in
different levels of the process at a particular time. The aforementioned has led
social scholars and scientist to devise new modes of measuring social exclusion
(Shaw et al. 2007).
According to Platt
(2007), crimes experienced in the developed countries are largely intertwined
with social exclusion. Often, most industrialized economies are capitalistic in
nature. That is, most means of production are controlled by a few individuals.
Capitalists are often driven by profits and they do not necessarily care much
of their workers. They often go an extra mile to ensure that worker efforts are
maximized to increase the revenue level. This leaves workers overworked,
underpaid and unappreciated. Therefore, the growing crime rate in developed economies
can be associated by the inability of citizens to feel appreciated. The numbers
of individuals who feel undervalued are rapidly increasing. In addition, due to
the rapid exploitation by the system, these socially excluded individuals are
unable to cope with the ever rising cost of living. In addition, they are
unable to enjoy the fruits of a developed economy, a thing that is enjoyed by
selected few. Being unable to maximize their utility and subsequently improve
their standards, these individuals resort to illegitimate ways to earn a living
(Pantazis, Gordon & Levitas 2006).
While appreciating the dynamic nature of social
exclusion, it is paramount to single out unemployment as a cardinal cause of
exclusion in the society. This is largely because in the 21st
century, wages and salary are not only a primary source of worker survival but
also a form of identity where worthiness of self is quantified. The self esteem
of a worker is largely dependent on the amount he/she is paid by the employer.
The very common indicators of exclusion i.e. homelessness and vicious cycles of
poverty are related with the income earned by a worker. The income earned by an
individual is responsible for the acquisition of basic commodities necessary
for survival. It is therefore apparent that labor market and social exclusion
are largely entwined. On the other hand, transportation is another factor of
exclusion. For example, given the lack or the limitation of transport prevents
individuals from meeting daily activities i.e. timely arrival to work places
(Haveman 1997).
Marginalization of individuals in the society brings with
it social exclusion. When an individual is marginalized, he/she is not able to
engage in society meaningful activities. For example, the exclusion of women
especially single mother in decision making organs in developing economies.
Another example of marginalization is the failure to incorporate physically
disadvantaged persons in the labor market. More often, employers view persons
with disability as liabilities. For example, they assert that they brings with
them additional costs. In the early 20th century, single mothers
were socially excluded from the welfare system. The contribution of a single
mother to the society are not limited to formal employment, they are
responsible for the upbringing of their young ones. However, in some contexts,
the work of a single mother to raise her offspring’s is often devalued as most
employers see it as a barrier to their businesses. From the aforementioned, it
is apparent that single women were socially excluded courtesy of narrow views
that quantified the contributions of one through employment. They failed to
capture other contributions that benefited the society in a wider manner. In
addition, the rigidity of culture often brings forth the issue of social
exclusion of women especially those who have kids outside wed log (Braham &
Janes 2003).
Social exclusion is largely tied to equal opportunity in
the society, because quite a number of people are largely drawn towards such exclusion
than others. Exclusion of some social groupings
is a problem that cuts across economies i.e. it is not limited to
developing economies as even the developed economies are equally affected by
similar issues. According to Bauman (1998), individuals who are socially
excluded have their citizenship at the balance.
Most of these persons who are often deprived off their citizenship have
no basic income. However, to avert the crisis, individuals need to strive to
earn basic income.
In conclusion, from the above discussion, it is apparent
that social exclusion is a very common phenomenon in the contemporary society. The
broadness of social exclusion brings together all aspect that largely
disadvantages or isolates an individual or community from the society. That is,
social exclusion deprives individuals who are often referred to as
disadvantaged groups from enjoying the opportunities present in the society.
Some of the aspects that bring forth social exclusion include unemployment. For
example, the more a person who is willing and able to work is locked out of
employment the more that individual is socially excluded i.e. by not being able
to cope with the ever increasing cost of living. These individuals are unable
to afford basic goods and commodities that put them on an equal platform with
the rest of the society. In addition,
the social networking of an individual is largely slashed as one is unable to
bond socially with his colleagues due to financial dent or social stigma due to
unemployment. Poor health is another
aspect that is largely associated with social exclusion. For example,
individuals who have physical and mental challenges are not well placed to
engage fully in society assignments.
Individuals who are unable to contribute or participate in society
activities are excluded. Excluded
persons are also disadvantaged in matters healthcare, where he/she cannot
access sound healthcare. Furthermore, the discussion above pinpoints poverty as
a primary cause of social exclusion in most countries. Poverty curtails the
ability of individuals to maximize their utility. The poor populace lives in
Poor housing units, has access to limited amenities and is unable to purchase
the basic family requirements. From the
aforementioned, it is clear these individuals are unable to enjoy sound
amenities, a thing that is basic to other individuals in the society. In the modern society, access to quality
shelter is a cardinal need to any human being. The absence of affordable and
quality housing units lead to social exclusion as a person will be limited to
overcrowded zones where amenities are limited and environmental problems are in
their numbers.
Economies need to come up with sound policies that will
address the plight of the disadvantaged in the society. Given that the social
exclusion and poverty are intertwined, economies need to advance feasible
policies that will break the vicious cycles of poverty. To address the issue of
poverty, a country needs to formulate and implement sound employment policies.
This will ensure that individuals have access to good income that will
otherwise translate into improved standards of living. In addition,
legislations to address the issue of discriminations ought to be advanced. This
will ensure that no one is discriminated against on matters sex, religion or
color.
List of references
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University Press ,Buckingham.
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2003, Social Differences and Divisions,
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London.
Gordon, D. et al. 2000, Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain,
Joseph Rowntree
Foundation, York.
Haveman, R 1997, Poverty Policy and Poverty Research,
University of Wisconsin
Press ,Wisconsin.
Hills, J & Stewart, K
2005, A More Equal Society, New Labour,
poverty, inequality and
Exclusion, Policy Press, Bristol.
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Basingstoke.
Lupton, R 2003, Poverty Street, Policy Press ,Bristol.
Pantazis, C, Gordon, D
& Levitas, R 2006, Poverty and social
exclusion in Britain: the
millennium survey, Polity Press, Cambridge.
Platt, L 2007, Poverty and Ethnicity in the UK, Policy
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Policy
Press, Bristol.
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D 2002, World Poverty: New Policies to
defeat an Old Enemy. Policy Press,Bristol.
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