Social Exclusion

Social exclusion is a means of oppression, where the larger society places obstacles and barriers to block full participation of a person or community in matters of social, political, cultural, spatial, and economic well-being. The term social exclusion is often used to identify oppressive measures implemented by a dominant group through direct and indirect means. While social exclusion is characteristically linked to poverty, it is not experienced only by those who are economically disadvantaged. In addition to social class, people may experience social exclusion due to (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation/identity, and/or disability. Additionally, social exclusion is often multidimensional in nature. This entry first provides a historic overview of social exclusion. It then looks at the factors and characteristics often ...