Abgestoßene

Abgestoßene is a German noun used to refer to people or groups that have been pushed away or excluded by society. The term derives from the prefix ab- meaning away and gestoßene, the past participle form of stoßen (to push), with gestoßene functioning as a nominalized adjective meaning those who have been pushed away. In contemporary usage, Ausgestoßene is the more common form, while Abgestoßene appears in some texts as a stylistic or historical variant.

In sociology and cultural studies, Abgestoßene describes individuals or groups subjected to social exclusion, stigmatization, discrimination, or marginalization. Examples can include the homeless, former prisoners, refugees, ethnic or religious minorities, and people with disabilities who experience limited social participation. The concept emphasizes the relational nature of exclusion, focusing on how social structures, institutions, and norms push certain people to the margins rather than attributing exclusion to individual failings alone.

The term often highlights consequences such as restricted access to employment, housing, education, and healthcare, along with poorer health outcomes and reduced civic participation. In literature and public discourse, the Abgestoßene can serve to critique systems of power and to explore resilience and solidarity in the face of ostracism. Because the label can carry normative overtones, many writers and scholars opt for neutral terminology like Ausgestoßene or phrases such as “people experiencing exclusion” to avoid stigmatization.

See also: social exclusion, stigma, ostracism, marginalization, discrimination.