Unveiling the Nature of Marginalization: A Closer Look at Personal and External Factors

Marginalization is a deeply ingrained experience that affects millions of people throughout the world. It can be seen as a process where individuals who are perceived as undesirable or lacking societal function are excluded and pushed to the fringes of society. This exclusion can manifest across various dimensions, such as social, political, cultural, economic, and even geographic spheres. Marginalized individuals often have limited control over their lives and access to resources, which prevents their meaningful integration and contribution to society. Understanding the nature and causes of marginalization is not only crucial for scholars, policymakers, and government organizations but also for the general public to work collectively toward building a more inclusive society.


To comprehend the intricacies of marginalization, let's delve deeper into the concept of "marginalized functionings" proposed by Katharine Jenkins and Aness Webster (2020). This concept highlights the relationship between an individual's bodily capacities and their social environment, particularly concerning their ability to function in accordance with societal norms, explaining the marginalization of individuals with disability. By examining specific examples, In this article, we are going to gain some valuable insights into the complex nature of marginalized fucntionings and expand its applicability to the broader marginalization phenomena.


Consider Naveen, a teenager living in a remote village, confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk or climb stairs like able-bodied individuals. Tragically, the village's only school lacks wheelchair accessibility, rendering it physically impossible for him to receive an education.  In this case, Naveen's marginalized functioning stems from his physical impairment, preventing him from conforming to the default norms on which the school was built (assuming everyone can walk up and down stairs), thus marginalizing him from educational opportunities.


Moving on to another example, let's examine the case of Dinesh, another teenager from Naveen's village, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. Dinesh also faces marginalization in accessing proper education. However, his marginalization arises not from any physical limitations but rather from social exclusion due to discrimination based on his caste identity. Despite his potential to fit into the existing school system, deep-rooted prejudices and caste-based discrimination hinder his inclusion. This demonstrates how external factors, such as discriminatory attitudes and biases, can act as potent catalysts for marginalization. From the examples of Naveen and Dinesh, it becomes evident that marginalization can occur with or without marginalized functioning and may manifest through various factors.


It is important to note that the concept of marginalized functioning is not solely limited to an individual's physical capabilities to conform to default norms. For instance, consider a female migrant from Nepal working in eateries in Chennai. While she may possess similar physical and cognitive capabilities as a Chennai-born female, her inability to speak the local language during the initial months of migration becomes a marginalized functioning. This language barrier makes it challenging for her to communicate effectively, which in turn hinders her social integration and contributes to marginalization in the host society. Thus, marginalized functioning extends beyond physical and cognitive capacities, encompassing a wide range of factors influencing an individual's integration.


So far we have discussed only isolated cases, but in reality, marginalization is a complex process with many intersecting factors. Dinesh's exclusion from education may not be due to marginalized functionings at that specific time, but the lack of educational opportunities could potentially become a marginalized functioning when he seeks employment in the future.  So it is crucial to comprehend the complexity of marginalization and how a person’s marginalization will be influenced by both their personal marginalized functionings and external marginalization factors.


Preventing People from developing new marginalized functioning would be the first step in stopping the perpetuation of marginalization Policy measures that can be implemented to target and equalize primary care services, particularly focusing on education, health services, security, and safety are crucial to prevent cases like Dinesh's, where lack of access to primary care (in this case education) contributes to the development of new marginalized functioning. 


Policy interventions aimed at enabling people with existing marginalized functioning such as Accessibility and Universal Design, Inclusive Employment Programs, Vocational Training and Skill Development are crucial. Furthermore, measures such as Awareness and Sensitization Programs, Media Representation, Community Engagement, and Anti-Discrimination Laws are necessary to eradicate discrimination and stigma attached to marginalized populace. 



References


Katharine Jenkins & Aness Webster (2020): Disability, Impairment, and Marginalised Functioning, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, DOI: 10.1080/00048402.2020.1799048

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Not All Men, Only Some!

“Not all men, only some!” This phrase often surfaces online, especially when a crime against women is reported. Well, I agree with the literal truth behind the statement. Indeed, it’s only some men who actively support victims instead of blaming them. It’s only some men who challenge the harmful actions and behaviors of perpetrators rather than questioning the actions of the victims. It’s only some men who understand the importance of being fellow human beings who respect others' rights, rather than seeing themselves as either saviors or perpetrators.     It’s only some men who grasp the true meaning of feminism—not as a threat to their masculinity, but as a movement for equality that benefits everyone. And yes, it’s only some men who realize that a woman’s freedom is not an invitation to commit crimes against her. It’s only some men who stand as allies, advocating for a world where women are free from violence and harassment. But every time I find the context in which it’s us...
Read more

Why Do Men’s Restrooms Stink? A Reflection on Privilege

     So far in my life, almost every public restroom I have used had a distinct, unpleasant stench—except for a few in high-end places. One day, I casually brought this up in conversation with a female friend, and to my surprise, she mentioned that women’s restrooms don’t smell as bad as men’s restrooms do. This got me thinking.      One particular instance stood out to me. My friend and I were at a library where the men’s and women’s restrooms were right across from each other. When we both came out, I complained about how awful the men's room smelled. She, on the other hand, said the women's room was fine. This seemed like such a minor observation at first, but as I thought more about it, I realized it might be a reflection of something much deeper—an ugly consequence of patriarchy.        The one thing I noticed in that men’s restroom was that most of the men using the urinals weren’t flushing after use. There was a small knob that on...
Read more

Nuances of Generational Transmission & Reinforcing Exclusion

  "No one is disadvantaged by birth" This statement feels like a distant ideal in a world where labels and biases seem to mark our every step. But it’s true—no one is born with the burdens of exclusion or the privileges of power. Disadvantages that come from physical, cognitive, or health differences are inherent to a person, but the vast majority of societal disadvantages are constructed. They’re built, passed down, and constantly reinforced by the very communities we’re born into, shaped by traditions, expectations, and norms that have often been accepted without question for generations. As we grow, we absorb these norms, often unconsciously, and they dictate the privileges that some of us enjoy and the marginalization that others endure. The cycle of exclusion and discrimination is multifaceted, fueled by the active choices of some and passive inheritance by others. Breaking this cycle requires understanding how these biases are perpetuated and acknowledging that change i...
Read more