Social exclusion facts for kids

Social exclusion or social marginalisation means being left out or pushed to the side by society. It's about people not having the same chances or access to things that others in their community do. This idea first became popular in France in the late 1900s and is now used a lot across Europe. Experts in different areas like education, how people live together (sociology), how minds work (psychology), government (politics), and money (economics) all talk about it.

Social exclusion happens when people are stopped from getting or using the rights, chances, and resources that are usually available to everyone else. These things are important for people to feel like they belong and for their human rights to be respected. For example, it might mean not having fair access to legal help or public services.

What is Social Exclusion?

Social exclusion is a process where individuals or groups are kept from fully joining in the everyday activities of society. It's like being cut off from the usual social connections and systems. This can stop people from taking part in the economic, social, and political life of their community.

Why Do People Get Excluded?

People can feel left out or disconnected for many reasons. This can be linked to their social class, race, skin color, religious beliefs, where their family came from, their education, how they grew up, their living conditions, or even their political views and how they look.

Exclusion can also happen to:

• People with disabilities
• Minority groups
• People from different backgrounds
• Young people who have left institutional care
• Older people
• Young people

Anyone who seems different from what is considered "normal" in a group might face social exclusion, whether it's obvious or subtle.

How Does Exclusion Affect People?

When people or communities are excluded, they can't fully join in the money-making, social, and political parts of their society. This can lead to them feeling frustrated. Sometimes, people who are excluded might show their feelings through protests, demonstrations, or by trying to get politicians to listen to them.

How Experts See Social Exclusion

Many experts believe that social exclusion is a complex issue. It often involves many different problems happening at once. For example, someone might face exclusion due to their background and also have limited access to good education.

One way to think about social exclusion is:

Social exclusion is a process where people or groups slowly get cut off from social connections and systems. This stops them from fully joining in the normal activities of the society they live in.

Another way to understand it is that social exclusion can happen to individuals or groups in four main ways:

• Not having enough access to social rights (like fair treatment).
• Not having enough money or basic things (material deprivation).
• Limited social participation (not being able to join in community activities).
• Feeling like they don't fit in with the common rules or values (lack of normative integration).

What Causes Social Exclusion?

Social exclusion is often a mix of different things. It can be caused by:

• Personal factors: Like a person's age, gender, or race.
• Big changes in society: Such as changes in how many people live somewhere, how the economy and job market are doing, new technology, or how social rules change.
• Government rules and policies: The laws and programs that governments create.
• Actions of others: How businesses, organizations, and other people behave towards them.