Social Exclusion and Discrimination

Do we, as citizens, commit the ability to be included, to function and to enter fully in the varied boldnesss of directlys fiat? This essay pass on mind at defining the damage set forth in the title by exploring question and theories that measure these problems. The essay pull up stakes identify a group of concourse who go out whiz of these struggles, citing evidence to abide this. The essay w adversity to a fault intuitive timbreing at what dis entrust be do to pr eventidet multitude being excluded, oppressed and co.uk/our-changing- companionship/ f wholly a partingd against.Sociology is the study of human kind behaviour, particularly the study of the hind endgrounds, groups, establishments, and development of human connection, and al roughly theories help to decide why and how to demand among alternative distinctions (Payne 2005). Theories argon rural argonaments of ideas, and Fook (2002) states that putt names to things help provide explanations and judgement of practice. Payne (2005, p6) say that Because accessible swear out is a practical action in a complex world, a theory must(prenominal) offer a model of lucid guidance. in that location be different sociological theories on loving influences, and these argon inte balance in their comparisons.Emile Durkheim was a structural functionalist. He was also a positivist, believing that troupe accommodates to unwavering laws and that on that point is an objective reality(Giddens 2001). He operated at bottom a model that sees guild as a complex amicable organisation or system in which the part work together to promote ropiness and stability (Dubois & Prade 1990). Structure in this context pertains to any stable face of kindly behaviour the function aspect is the examination of the consequences of man-to-man actions for the operation of society as a whole.This survey essenti every(prenominal)y perceives all told different parts of a society come togethe r and work as one whole part, in which world power is downstairsplayed. This could mean that if an individual or group does not work with the rest of society then they may be excluded. Howe (2002) informs that sociology would be the backbone of the structural view at heart societal work and would look at the political, economic and material surroundings in which the great unwashed find themselves.He goes on to say that this theory encompasses an anti-oppressive and anti- loaded perspective and that poverty, ine persona and miss of neighborly stillice plainlyt joint seriously disadvantage both(prenominal) citizenry and that these disadvantages send word contribute to lamentable complaisant functioning. Structural theorists discover that these multitude atomic number 18 not a problem to society but that society has start a problem for them. However, functionalism is often criticized for not adequately explaining change, and placing overly much narrate on order and stability. (Haralambos et al 2004) The scrap theorists view the society from an objective and graded point of view.In this perspective more or less(a) individuals be inferior to society. The basis of societal order is power or bullying and the only way to change within the society is finished a power struggle in which in that location is a lot of competition. Social furcate is passing important in this perspective for it defines an individuals lieu in the benefit of power. Karl Marx was the originator of the conflict theory and set forth societies like Britain as capitalist systems whereby cryptic employers and business owners with capital set up businesses which exploit on the job(p)(a) classes to generate level best profits (Macionis & Plummer 2008).Therefore, according to this theory, the working classes could be discriminated against. Social ejection is a multidimensional, dynamic concept which emphasises the work outes of change through and through wh ich individuals or groups are excluded from the mainstream of society and their vivification chances trim. (Philip & Shucksmith 1999. ) There is no concord definition of companionable excommunication, but in that location are considered to be conditions that many consent are contributing factors.Shaw et al (2006) expound social forcing out as bear on individuals or areas that suffer from associate problems much(prenominal) as un function, unequal skills, low income, poor housing, bad wellness, high crime and family breakdowns. So it has been give that living in a deprived area put forward tr halt a person into extreme poverty and/or social excommunication. (Haan et al. 1987, p 989). Therefore, we elicit conclude that social expulsion is generally associated with the above circumstances but it is also linked to a lack of social support, social stupefy and empowerment.White (1998) describes the offsetes steer to social exclusion including economic change, d emographic change, changes to welfare systems and processes of segregation and separation of plastered minority groups. Social exclusion is not just close individuals, it can refer to whole communities within which everyone can be affected. For example, areas with high levels of unemployment and deprivation. Sooman & Macintyre (1995) reported that studies in Glasgow tapeed differences in self-reported wellness between local anaesthetic areas, with to a great extent advantaged areas showing fewer health problems.In the mid 1990s, this country was marvellous by high levels of social exclusion, with the highest place in Europe of jobless households and juvenile pregnancies (www. socialexclusionunit. gov. uk). Many of these figures worsened during the 1990s and crime, poverty, exclusion from school and drug/alcohol dependence became significant problems. Nowadays, the concept of social exclusion is taking over from poverty. It does not just mean poor income, it suggests some thing more than social inequality and so it carries the risk of a multi-tier society or the relegation to the placement of the welfare dependent. Robbins, cited in Alcock, 1997).We could, of course, ask the dubiousness why is social exclusion a problem? Why should we care about someone who does not participate in key activities of the society in which he or she lives? (Burchardt et al, 2002). After all, not everybody chooses to conform to social norms. So, what if an individual has used their individualized autonomy to deliberately exclude themselves from society? A recluse who prefers solitude to company, a youth who chooses to join a unlawful gang rather than pursue a career, or the rich population who ignition lock themselves away at the other end of the social scale?Do all these mint constitute a social problem, and if so, is it the same kind of problem as those who are socially excluded for reasons beyond their tick off? (British Journal of Psychiatry 2007. 191). Ther e is, in society, an expectation that masses conform to social norms, and if someone be adjudges or looks differently from what is anticipate then they could be subject to distinction, whether their life-style is their own choice or has been compel upon them. To discriminate, briefly define, means to victimize or favour a group or individual because of social, economic, race, sex activity or ghostlike reasons.The law in Britain fares two kinds of contrast direct and indirect. Direct disagreement occurs when, as defined above, a group or individual is targeted for specific reasons. Indirect dissimilitude can happen when there are rules or regulations set in place which could exclude certain people. For instance, an employer may state that no hats or headwear are to be worn in the workplace. This could indirectly discriminate against people of certain ethnicity whose religion states that they privateness their heads.Discrimination and social exclusion have certain simila rities and can be compared by drawing attention to the different types of social discrimination experienced by people. preferential behaviours take many forms but they all involve some sort of exclusion or rejection. These behaviours can be looked at in different ways for example, anthropologically. Anthropology as a discipline gives powerful brainstorm to private views and asks the funda noetic question, how and why do human beings behave the way they do (Bro this instantski 1952) and compares the historical development of human society.This can be used in social work by enabling workers to scan different human behaviours and why they may be a product of society. As stated above, discrimination and social exclusion can have similar aspects but a key difference between them are the consequences that can come from discrimination, such(prenominal)(prenominal) as the policies put in place to reassure fair practice for those people who could be discriminated against by malady, age or gender. The core examples of these are the Disability, Age and land up Discrimination policies now in place.These policies ensure that, legally, people can no lengthy be discriminated against for having a disability, being too old or too unripe or because of their gender. The social composition of a population affects the ways in which social discrimination is exercised. In a society with people of multiple identities, for example ethnicity and religion, individuals or groups are likely to face discriminatory problems in multiple ways. The extent and types of discrimination will depend on peoples position in the population.Similarly, oppression is also assorted and can be caused by revere of someone different, or someone who does not conform to what is thought to be the norm in social standing. It is important to recognise the common themes across the areas of exclusion, discrimination and oppression. Thompson (2006, p40) stated that Oppression can be defined as inhuman or degrading treatment of individuals or groups hardship and outrage brought about by the dominance of one group over another.There are many parallels between the experiences of people with disabilities, gender issues, homosexuals and ethnic minorities but oppression and discrimination cannot be explained merely by peoples personal prejudices. Oppression does not derive hardly from individual actions, it can be construct into structural and institutional patterns and organisational policies. (Thompson 2001) The fact that we live in a highly stratify society means that inequalities are part of the social order and there are inevitably winners and losers. (Thompson 2001) Rooney (1987) gives an example of this.He describes how a local authority used a word of mouth process to promote home-help staff. When there were vacancies for these jobs, the existing predominantly clean employees would be asked to pass on info of the vacancies to friends and/or family. This meant that compani onship of the posts would only be passed on to a predominantly snow-clad group of people, some of whom would be interviewed and accordingly employed. Because of this, black and ethnic minorities were systematically excluded, even though it may have been unintentional.There are many authorities and organisations that can be seen as being wicked of this kind of institutional oppression, with the ideas of powerful groups fit dominant over the minority as quoted by Marx in 1845 The ideas of the ruling class are, in every age, the ruling ideas. Whilst anyone can experience social exclusion, discrimination or oppression, it has been found that certain groups are more vulnerable to them and that they are all linked to a certain degree. It is normally a combination of factors that contribute to social exclusion, thusly making it a multidimensional process and not caused by a unmarried unique factor.Madanipour et al 1998, cited in Byrne 2005). whizz group in particular that experienc e social exclusion are people that suffer from cordial illness. It could be that the majority of negative attitudes towards kind illness are simply a reflection of the lack of disposition of various genial health conditions, and this could have a bearing on any initiative to combat such prejudice in the future. Link et al (1999) reported that though there has been some reformment of general understanding, the public, largely, does wish to maintain social distance from the amiablely ill.Hocking (2003) found that people with schizophrenia, specifically, were subject to discrimination in housing, education and employment. Although the public perception of mental illness has been studied vastly, there are few studies to date that concentrate on how the public perceive mental illness within the workplace. Williams and Wilkins (1998) reported that when human resources officers were prone vignettes of job applications where the applicants had very similar skills and qualifications, applicants who described themselves as having depression importantly reduced their chance of employment compared to that of applicants with diabetes.Baldwin and Johnson (2004) stated that workers with mental health problems were subject to a greater discrimination and suffered a lower employability be than workers suffering from a physical illness. question also acknowledges that mental illness receives a greater amount of negativity than that of a physical illness. Britt (2000) reported that among military machine aid members there was a impregnable belief that admitting to psychological or mental health problems at work would bemuse them more discriminated against than admitting to physical problems.Over one-half of the participants of the report believed that a military utility members career would be negatively affected by admitting a psychological problem and just under half actually admitted that they would maintain a distance from a co-worker has he or she disclosed a psychological problem. Rush et al (2005) identified 3 known misconceptions linked to people with mental illness i)They are homicidal maniacs that should be avoided ii) They are rebellious free spirit up iii) They have childlike perceptions of the worldThe close to measurable of these is the first one which could explain some of the exclusion, discrimination and oppression suffered by people with mental health problems. The judicature has encouraged action in the employment of people with mental illness through its action plan on social exclusion (Social Exclusion Task overstretch 2006), but levels of unemployment are still significantly high for sufferers even though most of them want to, and are able to work. They usually end up on want term benefit and suffer social exclusion in the form of deprivation, isolation and physical, as well as mental, ill health.Social support is of crucial sizeableness to individuals and groups with mental health problems, and, maybe if there w as more trust between people, on with more community cohesion and empowerment, there might be a greater understanding of the difficulties encountered by people with mental health problems and society would discriminate less. In conclusion then, it would seem that there are many similarities between social exclusion, discrimination and oppression. All of these subjects evoke a strong, affectional response from those affected by them.In the UK alone, there are still thousands of people who are in poverty, homeless or have mental health problems and who are consequently excluded from aspects of society or discriminated against. This is despite interventions from health and social care workers from all sectors, the government and educational facilities. PCTs and providers are working hard and making significant pass in improving the accessibility and quality of primary health care in order to keep people healthy for longer and reduce health inequalities (www. wdc. org. uk). society social work, which was used at the asylum of the welfare state, is going through a regeneration period and the introduction of incontestable Start and Family Centres on what the government describes as Sink Estates enables the socially excluded to access go and skills to enable them to feel part of society. As with all government initiatives, people visualise services with suspicion but social workers are in a position to build trusting and therapeutic relationships within the community.Therefore, although progress is slow, it is not unattainable. There is now evidence, however, which demonstrates that we pick up to go further to improve the way we meet the primary health care needs of the most socially excluded people within our society, as socially excluded clients often do not show up on needs assessments. The cellular inclusion Health study (www. swdc. org. uk) has also produced an polished supporting evidence pack which commissioners can use to help build the eccentric person for improvement.There is a clear need for people who work with socially excluded people to stay within a framework of guidelines. For example, social workers need to develop an understanding of the problems that can occur within peoples lives and employ anti-oppressive practice in all aspects of care. It is possible that socially excluded groups feel disempowered and unable to do anything to help themselves and it is the certificate of indebtedness of the social worker to hand back power to the service user whilst recognising the personal, ethnical and social factors affecting the individual or family in question.There needs to be adequate assessments linked to helping people to solve problems and a sound knowledge of what can cause exclusion or discrimination by using research based evidence. Howe (1993) emphasized the importance of process in evaluation and there are several ways to implement this for example through personal perceptions, evidence from service users, colle agues and supervisors and advice from other professionals or individuals involved. In shortsighted however, the only way to eliminate exclusion of any sort is to raise sense in the shortfalls of society and eradicate prejudice, dogmatism and ignorance.