Social and Spatial Processes to Prevent the Marginalization of the Poor - Essay Example

?Critically analyze the social and spatial processes whereby a selected group becomes marginalized or excluded from society. Introduction In books, it is generally accepted and known that discrimination any kind is unacceptable and illegal. This is because there are universal, global and national laws and conventions that guard against discrimination of any kind. For instance The United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 4 No. 1) states that decisions shall not be taken based on discrimination solely on the ground of race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin. For this reason, it is expected that discrimination, leading to marginalisation of any kind shall not be taken against people based on their socio-economic status. If the laws written in the books are to be followed, then there should not be marginalisation against the poor. Unfortunately though, the laws only seem to remain paper work as actual marginalisation against the poor takes place in everyday life. In this essay, there shall be the critical analysis of the various ways in which poor people are commonly discriminated against in society, leading a sense of marginalisation against them. Most importantly, ways of bridging the gap of marginalisation shall be reviewed. The review is expected to serve the purpose of not just laying the facts bear but going a step further to ensure that the paper becomes of significant essence to the marginalised poor such that the poor shall be in a position to live a normal life – the kind that is written in books. Marginalisation and Social Exclusion as a Process Marginalisation is a complex “process whereby certain groups suffering deprivation are pushed to the edge of society where they have little say in decision making and are denied the means to improve their position” (Combat Poverty Agency, 2002). Marginalisation and social exclusion is not an event but a process. This means that it takes place over a period of time and eventually becomes accomplished after a number of activities have taken place. The Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (2011), social exclusion “can involve the systematic denial of entitlements to resources and services, and the denial of the right to participate on equal terms in social relationships in economic, social, cultural or political arenas.” As a process therefore, social exclusion and marginalisation involves a whole lot of components that entails social, economic, political or cultural acts of discrimination. Factors constituting Marginalisation against the Poor Spatial Inequalities Terms such as ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ are not leaving our group of vocabulary any time soon. It is common knowledge that the poor is associated with the rural settlement whereas the urban is for the rich and well to do. Instead of distrusting developmental resources and agenda equally to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich, governments continue give so many premiums to the welfare of the rich, providing them with social amnesties and facilities that are needed to make life easier and good. As if the poor is destined to live a difficult and bad life, rate of development between the rural and urban centres creates such a wild gap that marginalisation is braided. In this regard, the Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (2011), notes that “spatial inequalities include disparities between rural and urban areas, and also between geographically advantaged and disadvantaged areas.” This means that any act that tries to segregate the poor from the rich through geographic divisions, giving advantage to one of the groups over the other constitutes spatial inequality of spatial marginalisation. As agents for change, political leaders are expected to put in place structures that bridge the gap between the rich and poor rather than widening the gap. Through gradual activities and developmental programs that tend to raise the quality of living in urban centres however, a halo of marginalisation tends to be created against the poor. Financial incapability Our society is yet to be free from loans being given on condition of collateral. The starting of businesses will also not go on in the absence of huge capitals. Even in the bidding for contrast, people have to take along their bank statements. So as long as these conditions remain, it is going to be only the rich and well to do who will be financially capable. The poor continues to be disabled and rendered financially incapable because of the absence of financial terms that suits their needs. Even in cases where attempts have been made to give financial aid to the poor, it is nothing but a ‘micro’ finance when all know that the meaning of micro is small. It is not for nothing that in surveys sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank, there was a revelation that “the percentage of households holding a deposit account changed little among the four highest income bands, but in the fifth--the poorest--account ownership dropped more than 11 percentage points” (Jacobson, 1994). This news indeed represents such as huge gap of marginalisation against the poor’s quest to get rich and become financially sound. Legal Discrimination Legal discrimination is broad and widespread. The first form of legal discrimination deals with any acts that deprive the poor of their basic human rights. Most often than not, there is a great gap of marginalisation created between the rich and the poor when it comes to the defence of fundamental human rights. This is because even at the national levels, the interests and rights of ordinary citizens who are perceived to be rich have their economic, social and cultural rights defended and protected as compared to poor people. The Combat Poverty Agency (2002) notes that “Economic, social and cultural rights refer to the rights of all persons to live a fully human life which meets their physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs.” The agency continues to lament that being deprived of the economic, social and cultural rights is often symptomatic of living in poverty. Concurrently, Agyekum (2005) posits that any act of deprivation of a person’s rights constitutes legal discrimination. Secondly, there is total legal discrimination when it comes to the actual delivery of the justice system. In Canada for instance, there was a research, which concluded in a report that “"Too many poor people are picked up and "charged by the police. Too many poor people are denied bail. "Too many poor people get convicted because they can't afford a lawyer"” (Lawton, 2000). Until laws that ensure justice distinguish the poor from the rich by giving different premiums, marginalisation against the poor will continue in legal terms. Bridging the Marginalisation Gap The process social and spatial process of marginalisation against the poor can be stop through three major models. These models are political will, law enforcement and self empowerment. In the first place, politicians, who are agents of development in our societies, must have a will power to cause a change. As seen in the spatial inequality, the best way that politicians can ensure that the gap of marginalisation is broken against the poor is by ensuring that the poor also has better conditions of living. As much as possible, the tag ‘rural’ and ‘poor’ must be removed through development expansion. Secondly, laws that are made to ensure that discrimination of any kind is meted against the poor are enforced. It is only in the enforcement of these laws that the poor can have their voices heard. This is because apart from what exists in books, the poor’s voice is hardly heard anywhere. Not in parliament, not in the presidential palace. Finally, the poor must have an understanding that their lives are in their own hands. This way, they must put in personal efforts that aim at changing their social status. One hope for this is that there are countless of people who used to be poor but are now rich due to their own efforts. If society and the system will not defend them, they should rise to defend themselves by moving into riches. Conclusion The welfare and development of the poor is the collective development of society. This is because if a nation like Britain or any other country targets that it is riding all its borders and shores of poverty and for that matter poor people, the eventual thing that will be said is that ‘there are no poor people in this country and that that country is developed.’ Opinion leaders, social advocates, non-governmental agencies and global communities should come together to ensure that everything that needs to be done to fight better the life of the poor is done. This is because if there are no poor people, there will be no marginalisation. REFERENCE LIST Agyekum G. A., 2003, ‘Justice for all only in the books’, London: Cantoments Publishing Limited Combat Poverty Agency, 2002, ‘Glossary of Poverty and Social Inclusion Terms’, accessed October 17, 2011 Combat Poverty Agency, 2002, ‘Glossary of Poverty and Social Inclusion Terms’, accessed October 17, 2011 Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, 2011, ‘Social exclusion’, accessed October 16, 2011 Jacobson L, 1994, ‘Bank Failure: The Financial Marginalization of the Poor’ accessed October 17, 2011 Lawton V. O. B., 2000, ‘Justice failing the poor: Report’, accessed October 13, 2011 United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 4 No. 1), ‘International Covenant On Civil and Political Rights’, accessed October 17, 2011 Read More