Epävarmemmat

Epävarmemmat is a Finnish term used to refer to people or groups who experience greater insecurity or precarity compared with others. It functions as the plural nominative form of the comparative adjective epävarmempi (more insecure) and can be used either as a substantive phrase meaning “the more insecure ones” or as a modifier before a noun (epävarmemmat työntekijät, epävarmemmat asukkaat).

In linguistic and sociological usage, epävarmemmat typically denotes relative insecurity rather than absolute danger. The category is defined in relation to a chosen baseline, such as a more secure group or national average. It is not a fixed characteristic of individuals but a description of risk exposure or vulnerability within a given context, for example in employment, housing, health, or political participation.

Contexts in which epävarmemmat appear include discussions of labor markets (precarious employment and income instability), social policy (safety nets and access to services), and social inequality (how structural factors affect security). The term can be applied to different groups, such as youths, migrants, part-time workers, or residents in high-risk neighborhoods, depending on the comparative frame used.

As with any label for social groups, use of epävarmemmat should be contextual, avoiding overgeneralization and respecting variation within groups. It is a descriptive, relative category rather than a fixed identity.