Segregated

Segregated is an adjective describing something that is separated or divided into distinct groups or sections. It can apply to social relations, institutions, or physical spaces, and is often used to describe systems or policies that enforce separation based on category such as race, ethnicity, religion, or gender.

Etymology: The word traces to the Latin segregare, meaning to set apart or separate.

Historical context: Segregation is most closely associated with formalized racial separation in the United States under Jim Crow laws and with apartheid in South Africa. In these systems, separate facilities and services were maintained for different groups, justified by doctrines such as “separate but equal.” Legal challenges, including Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954), shaped the legal stance on segregation and its desegregation. Segregation also appeared in housing, transportation, and public accommodations, and can exist as de jure (by law) or de facto (in practice) segregation.

Other domains: In organizational and computing contexts, segregation can refer to separating duties or data to limit access or risk, such as data segregation or the principle of separation of duties in internal controls.

Contemporary use: Since the mid-20th century, many countries have pursued desegregation and equal access, but disparities and segregation-like patterns can persist in various forms. The term remains a core analytic category in sociology, history, and policy discussions about inequality and civil rights.

See also: segregation, desegregation, apartheid, civil rights movement, segregation in housing, segregation in education.