What are social inclusion and social exclusion?

In order to talk about  social inclusion, we have to understand what social exclusion is. ‘Social exclusion’ refers to a situation of economic or social disadvantage. ‘Social inclusion’ is about addressing the issues which result in social exclusion, so it is often used to describe the opposite effect to social exclusion.

Social inclusion happens when positive action is taken to change the circumstances that lead to social exclusion. Promoting social inclusion involves building inclusive societies that offer equal opportunities regardless of circumstances.

What are the causes of social exclusion?

Causes of social exclusion are complex. Social exclusion is driven by a complex interplay of demographic, economic, social and behavioural factors. These factors can include:  unemployment; financial hardship; youth or old age; ill health (physical or mental); substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs; discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, belief, creed, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment; poor educational or skills attainment; relationship and family breakdown; poor housing; crime. The risks of social exclusion are not evenly shared but concentrated in the poorest individuals and communities.

Examples of social exclusion

There are many examples of social exclusion which occur daily. People can be excluded from society for a number of reasons. It could be because they belong to a certain ethnic or minority group, or how they identify, such as members of LGBTQ+. An example of how someone could be indirectly discriminated against could be if a building only has stairs. This excludes individuals who require a lift to navigate multiple floors.

Promoting social inclusion

Here is an example of how social inclusion can be promoted. Social inclusion can be promoted among deaf parents and their children who are socially excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of being deaf by:

  • providing education and information to support and enable deaf parents to maximise educational opportunities for their children,
  • raising public awareness of the issues affecting deaf parents and their children, both generally and in relation to their social exclusion,
  • providing workshops, forums, advocacy and general support,
  • providing recreational facilities and opportunities for deaf and hearing people.

What is classism?

Social class is not a protected characteristic, even though it has links to inequality. Therefore, it is technically not illegal to discriminate against someone because of their social class.

Classism is treating someone differently because of their social class, or perceived social class. It is usually where people with less social class status (e.g., working class, lower middle class in the UK) are treated in a way which excludes, devalues, and separates them based on that status. A person from the more privileged classes can be a ‘class ally’ (an individual whose attitudes and behaviours are anti-classist). They are committed to increasing their own understanding of the issues related to classism and are actively working towards eliminating classism on many levels. Taking action that is consistent is a key step to becoming an ally.