‘Social Exclusion’ theory can be understood through many perspectives. With its origins in France in Europe it is important that this theory be better understood and analysed as it is paramount in shaping public policy that deals with exclusionary issues impacting some of the most vulnerable people in society today. This essay will first outline the origin of this theory. It will then move on to explain the various concepts of ‘Social Exclusion’ and the resulting impact this can have in understanding the perceptions of inequalities or lack of opportunities faced by certain groups in society. It covers a range of ideas from its multi-dimensional concept, Muddiman’s powerlessness, the social, political and economic spheres, Rowntree’s ‘basic
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For Lenoir, socially excluded people include those who are poor, suicidal, disabled and abused which at the time encompassed around 10% of the French population (Haan, 2001). The French Revolution and related developments during the Enlightenment in the eighteenth century had an impact on the intellectual history of exclusion and inclusion where the various opportunities that can be enjoyed by different people and absence of these opportunities moved society towards the idea of ‘Social Exclusion’ (Sen, …show more content…
Therefore it looks at characteristics of poverty that might perpetuate poverty such as that of location, lack of education and gender (Haan, 2001). Linked to this is the ‘relative deprivation’ aspect which analyses deprivation or ‘Social Exclusion’ based on the wealth of the country rather than absolute poverty which is a focus of the lack of ‘basic needs’ approach (Haan, 2001). Nevertheless relational deprivations can result in impoverishment of lives in absolute ways such as not being able to receive an education or have access to markets can result in not being able to earn a livelihood and therefore not be able to provide three meals a day for oneself (Sen, 2000).
Another perspective of social exclusion is that of Chambers (1989) who defines ‘Social Exclusion’ in terms of vulnerability or that of defenceless, insecurity and exposure to shocks or risks (Chambers, p.30). The focus is therefore not on measuring the extent of ‘Social Exclusion’ but the various dimensions of it (Chambers,
For Lenoir, socially excluded people include those who are poor, suicidal, disabled and abused which at the time encompassed around 10% of the French population (Haan, 2001). The French Revolution and related developments during the Enlightenment in the eighteenth century had an impact on the intellectual history of exclusion and inclusion where the various opportunities that can be enjoyed by different people and absence of these opportunities moved society towards the idea of ‘Social Exclusion’ (Sen, …show more content…
Therefore it looks at characteristics of poverty that might perpetuate poverty such as that of location, lack of education and gender (Haan, 2001). Linked to this is the ‘relative deprivation’ aspect which analyses deprivation or ‘Social Exclusion’ based on the wealth of the country rather than absolute poverty which is a focus of the lack of ‘basic needs’ approach (Haan, 2001). Nevertheless relational deprivations can result in impoverishment of lives in absolute ways such as not being able to receive an education or have access to markets can result in not being able to earn a livelihood and therefore not be able to provide three meals a day for oneself (Sen, 2000).
Another perspective of social exclusion is that of Chambers (1989) who defines ‘Social Exclusion’ in terms of vulnerability or that of defenceless, insecurity and exposure to shocks or risks (Chambers, p.30). The focus is therefore not on measuring the extent of ‘Social Exclusion’ but the various dimensions of it (Chambers,