Segregation

Types of Segregation

Social segregation, often related to discrimination against groups identified by race, ethnicity, religion, or gender, can be manifested in a variety of ways. The two forms that have received perhaps the most attention recently are race and gender segregation.

Racial segregation separates people according to race, which may be an ascribed or socially defined status, and is an extensive basis of discriminatory treatment. It can be manifested in a variety of ways, most prominently including schools and housing. Educational segregation, for example, involves separate schools and educational facilities. In explicitly segregated societies, public spaces may be segregated as well, with separate areas of buses, restaurants, and theaters, for example, designated by race. The most extreme form of sociopolitical segregation is apartheid.

In geographical segregation, certain groups are settled in different areas than the general population core, most often with a political motivation. One form of this is residential segregation, which can result from specific discriminatory categorization or imposed placement, or just reflect socioeconomic differentiation. Immigrants and persons with lower income are more likely to be affected by involuntary residential segregation. For example, urban special segregation occurs in a social differentiation context, resulting in immigrant-dense areas.

Gender segregation can be more or less extreme in various contexts, ranging from specially reserved buildings and facilities to special places in churches or on public transportation, for example (again, often with a sociopolitical or religious motivation). Occupational segregation can be a particular form of gender segregation, the tendency for men and women to be employed in different positions. This also triggers a gender pay gap, as women systematically get lower pay, sometimes because their occupations are less valued. However, women may get lower pay even when doing the same job, which is a form of gender discrimination. Historically, women have also experienced educational segregation.

Various groups may be separated from the general population on grounds of ethnicity or culture and cultural identity, including linguistic identity This may be a direct or indirect choice of the respective groups, or it may be forced and sometimes even legislated (in which case it may become a matter of extreme discriminatory treatment, such as apartheid). A related from of segregation divides people by religion. This often entails actual geographic separation, for example, between Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Jerusalem.

Less frequently discussed forms of segregation include segregation by social category or class or belonging, especially as a hierarchic form of discrimination. Social segregation is often related to income level and is a function of class and space in the urban context. Segregation of people with disabilities may result from lack of access to common facilities as, for example, when buildings are not adapted to their specific needs.

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