Social Exclusion

???????? Why should we concerned with social exclusion in the 21st Century Is it an inherent feature of contemporary society? Can the agency of an individual make a difference? We are “in an age where the complacency of some is bought at the cost of the misery of others with its effects on the fabric of social order for all” (Byrne 2005 xii)

‘Broken Britain’ “The biggest change we face: the growing number of our fellow citizens, who lack the means, material & otherwise to participate in the economic, social, cultural & political life in Britain today. It is about more than poverty & unemployment. It is about being cut off from what the rest of us regard as normal life. It is called social exclusion, what others may call the underclass.” Tony Blair, 1997 - Introducing the Social Exclusion Unit

What is social Exclusion? “ Social exclusion is something that can happen to anyone. But certain groups, such as young people in care, those growing up in low income households or with family conflict, those who do not attend school, and people from some minority ethnic communities are disproportionately at risk of social exclusion.” (Social Exclusion Unit 2001 p.5) This is perhaps who it happens to but does not really tell us about why it happens

Key risk factors low income; family conflict; being in care; school problems; being from an ethnic minority; Living in a deprived neighbourhood in urban and rural areas; mental health problems, age and disability.

Idea of ‘social exclusion’ “Social exclusion is defined as a multi- dimensional process, in which various forms of exclusion are combined: participation and political processes, access to employment and material resources, and integration into common cultural processes. When combined, they create acute forms of exclusion that find a spatial manifestation in particular neighbourhoods” (Madanipour et al 1998 in Byrne 2005 p.2)

Social Exclusion More than just poverty Changes in society over a period of time leads to changes in the lives people lead Such as? http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/se p/05/young-people-2011-summer-unrest What are your views on this in terms of social exclusion?

Process of Social Exclusion Stereotyped Marginalised Stigmatized Welfarism Trivialised Invisible TASK Give an example What is the impact/effect on children & families Identify the issues/needs

Impact of Social Exclusion Individuals; Underachieving educational potential. Socially excluded groups are more likely to be on benefit or in low paid work. Poor access to services. Socially excluded groups usually face significantly higher levels of stress and mental health problems. Poor physical health Lack of hope. Educational underachievement - A teenager from a deprived neighbourhood is five times more likely to go to a failing school and less likely to achieve good qualifications;56 Services - Socially excluded groups face significantly poorer access to services from the public sector (for example, poor areas have fewer GPs per head) Stress – higher stress levels, not surprisingly given their risk of social isolation and the difficulties of managing on low incomes and in high crime environments; Health - Social exclusion can lead to poorer physical health, through poor diet, lack of opportunities for exercise, or higher rates of smoking and drug use Lack of hope - Many people who are socially excluded feel little hope for the future, especially if barriers such as disability or health problems, lack of transport, low skills, discrimination, or few local jobs limit the opportunities to work or participate in society in other ways. This feeling may be exacerbated by fear that the prospects for their children may be no better

Impact of Social Exclusion Indirect social costs; reduced social cohesion as different areas, generations and minority ethnic communities are divided by radically different life chances; higher crime and fear of crime, extra pressure on people working with excluded groups; reduced mobility, as vulnerable people avoid certain parts of town or feel intimidated – rightly or wrongly (e.g. by groups of young people, beggars).

Causes of Social exclusion Wider changes in society have weakened or removed some of the support systems that helped people cope in the past: More young people have grown up in lone parent households which are disproportionately likely to be on a low income; Breakdown in relationships which can leave individuals less well equipped to cope with other difficulties they may face Communities have become more polarised and fragmented

Activity Watch the following video and think about; the difficulties this family are facing How these difficulties contribute to social exclusion; For the parents For the children