Segregating

Segregating is the act of separating or keeping apart different groups or categories of people, places, or things. In social contexts, segregation commonly refers to the separation of groups based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or socioeconomic status. The term can describe legal mandates, official policies, or informal social practices that assign people to distinct facilities, neighborhoods, schools, or job opportunities. Segregation can be de jure (codified by law) or de facto (occurring in practice without explicit legal authorization). It can also apply to data, spaces, or resources that are partitioned to protect privacy, security, or policy requirements.

Historically, racial segregation was enforced in many countries. In the United States, Jim Crow laws and practices established separate public facilities and services for Black and white people until mid-20th century reforms. In South Africa, apartheid formalized segregation in housing, education, and politics until the 1990s. Other systems have involved caste, religious divisions, or urban planning practices that created physically distinct communities.

Responses to segregation have included legal challenges, civil rights movements, and policy reforms aimed at desegregation and equal access to public services and education. Ongoing concerns include de facto segregation, which can persist through housing patterns, economic disparities, or school district zoning, even after formal prohibitions are removed. In contemporary discussions, segregation may also be referenced in digital or organizational contexts to describe the partitioning of information, networks, or services.