Marginalizing

Marginalizing refers to the act or process of pushing individuals or groups to the margins of society, limiting their access to resources, decision-making, and social recognition. It can be overt or subtle and operates at multiple levels—structural, institutional, and interpersonal. Structural marginalization arises from the design of economic and legal systems, such as housing policies, labor markets, and education funding, that place certain groups at a persistent disadvantage. Institutional marginalization occurs within organizations and public institutions through practices like biased hiring, inaccessible infrastructure, underrepresentation in leadership, or data gaps that obscure specific needs. Interpersonal marginalization is the everyday exclusion or diminished status conveyed in social interaction, stigma, or stereotyping.

Marginalization commonly affects groups defined by ethnicity, race, religion, nationality, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, or immigration status, and can intersect across identities, producing compounded effects. The consequences include limited access to housing and employment, reduced educational and civic participation, poorer health outcomes, higher stress, and social isolation.

Responses to marginalization include legal protections against discrimination, inclusive policymaking, accessibility improvements, and targeted programs to expand opportunities. Efforts to counter marginalization emphasize representation, voice in decision-making, universal design, and data collection that reflects diverse populations.

In scholarly contexts, marginalization is analyzed as a structural phenomenon produced by power relations, with attention to its causes, mechanisms, and remedies. It is distinct from individual prejudice, though prejudice can contribute to marginalizing practices.