Marginality

Marginality refers to the condition of being on the margins of a dominant social, economic, or political system, often accompanied by limited access to resources, power, and social recognition. It is both a structural status and a lived experience, varying across time and place, describing individuals, groups, or places that are economically excluded, geographically peripheral, culturally estranged, or politically underrepresented.

Causes include economic restructuring, discrimination, language barriers, migration, poverty, and geographic isolation; processes of urbanization, deindustrialization, and policy neglect can create or intensify marginal positions. The experience is shaped by social networks, cultural capital, and inclusion or exclusion within institutions. The marginal or “between worlds” perspective has roots in early sociological thought on the marginal man.

Effects often include limited access to education and healthcare, insecure housing, unemployment, stigma, and social exclusion. Marginality can also sustain resilience, alternative identities, and informal networks. The concept emphasizes that life chances are not evenly distributed and that margins influence political participation, health, and social cohesion.

Research uses qualitative methods and quantitative indicators of income, housing, mobility, and participation. Policy responses seek to reduce marginality through inclusive governance, anti-discrimination, social protection, education and training, affordable housing, and equitable urban planning. In discussing marginality, scholars consider both the disadvantages associated with marginal positions and the potential for marginalized spaces to foster creativity, solidarity, and agency.