Segregatory

Segregatory is an adjective used in sociology, political science, and legal discourse to describe processes, policies, or attitudes that produce or maintain social separation among groups defined by characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, or class. Segregatory measures can be formal, enacted by law or policy, or informal, arising from social norms and enforcement practices that limit interactions or access to resources based on group membership.

The term is used to analyze outcomes such as unequal access to education, housing, employment, and public facilities. It emphasizes the mechanism of separation rather than only the presence of discrimination, though segregation and discrimination often intersect. Segregatory analysis may consider both structural designs—like zoning, school catchment areas, or housing policies—and interpersonal dynamics that reinforce division.

Historical and contemporary examples include state-sponsored segregation in the United States under Jim Crow laws and the legal framework of apartheid in South Africa, as well as more subtle forms of segregation in housing, schooling, and public services in various countries. The word derives from Latin segregare "to separate," with the suffix -ary forming an adjective. It is related to, but distinct from, segregationist, which describes supporters of segregation, and from segregation, the noun for the act or policy of separating.