desechados

Desechados is the plural form of desechado, an adjective in Spanish meaning something that has been discarded, rejected, or thrown away. As a noun, desechados can refer to people who are excluded by society or regarded as worthless, such as the homeless, the unemployed, or other marginalized groups. The term derives from des-echar, “to throw away.” In everyday speech, desechado can describe objects, ideas, or persons that are not kept or valued.

In social and cultural discourse, desechados is used to denote those who lack access to resources or social recognition. It is often employed in studies of poverty, urban marginality, or social exclusion. Because it can carry a stigmatizing connotation, some authors prefer alternatives such as marginados, excluidos, or vulnerables, depending on context.

The concept also intersects with discussions of waste, disposability, and the treatment of surplus populations in contemporary economies. In literature, journalism, and social analysis, the term may be used to highlight precarity, labor exploitation, and the invisibility of stigmatized groups, while inviting critical reflection on structural causes rather than individual failings.

See also: desecho, marginado, excluido, pobreza, exclusión social, desechos.