Anth. Chap4

Unit 4: Marginalized, Minorities, and Vulnerable
Groups
4.1. Definition of Concepts
it is a multidimensional, multicausal, historical phenomenon
unfolded with multiple meanings.
But, put simply, it refers to:
Marginalization is the treatment of a person or social group
as minor, insignificant or peripheral. It involves exclusion
 from social interactions,
 from associations and celebrations,
 from ownership of economic resources,
 from marriage relations,
 from sharing foods and drinks,
 from living and working together.
c) lack of cultural integration, lack of adaption to norms (i.e.
“culture of poverty”, “urban underclass”)
• Thus, marginalization is a complex as well as shifting
phenomenon virtually happening in every society and
culture.
Who are marginalized?
To be specific, the following are marginalized groups.
 Women , children, older people
 people with disabilities
 Religious and ethnic minorities
 Craft workers (tanners, potters, ironsmiths, weavers)
 Marginalization might take place at:
Individual level,
Community level, or
Global (immigrants)
Minority Groups refers to a small group of people within a
community, region or country.
• Race/ ethnicity, religion and language are used as basis for
categorizing minority groups.
• Hence, the names such as ethnic minorities, religious
minorities, racial minorities and linguistic minorities. E.g.
- Black Americans in USA
-Christians in a Muslim majority country and the other way
around.
Vulnerability refers to the state of being exposed to
any forms of physical or emotional injuries because of
identity, religion, occupation, disability, age, and sex.
 Vulnerabilities includes physical, social, economic,
attitudinal.
• Vulnerable persons/groups need special attention,
protection and support.
4.2. Gender-based Marginalization
• It is a global problem closely related to gender inequality.
• Gender inequality involves discrimination of people based
on their gender.
• It arises from socio-cultural norms and is manifested
differently across cultures.
• Manifestations;
– Gender disparities in education in rural/remote areas.
– Lack of income and employment opportunities
– Unfair distribution of resources
– Deprived of the rights to ownership and inheritance.
– Rape, child marriage, abduction/forced marriage.
– Female genital mutilation/cutting.
4.3. Marginalized Occupational Groups
• This is marginalization based on what people do for a living.
• Studies show that there are occupationally marginalized

groups in Ethiopia who produce tradition hand- woven
clothes, household utensils, and farm tools.
• Although they contribute to their communities, there are
marginalized from the wider society.
• Ironsmiths (who make and repair iron articles without using
machine),
• Tanners (who make leather products)
• Potters (who produce pottery for food processing and
fetching water) and others
---are often considered as inferior and marginalized from the
wider areas of social interactions.
4.4. Age-based Vulnerability
• It is the susceptibility of people, specially children and older
peoples, to different forms of attack, both physical and
emotional.
• Because of their age, children (girls and boys) are exposed
to harm and abuse.
• Whereas, girls are exposed to double marginalization and
discrimination = FGM and early child marriage.
• Because of its multifaceted consequences, the International
human rights conventions regards early/child marriage as
violation of the right of the child.
• Under the criminal code of Ethiopia, child marriage is also
classified as illegal.
• However, social norms and economic factors haven't
prevented the case.
• Chastity of girls and economic benefits are among the
possible explanations.
• ‘Older persons’ refers those above the age 60.
• In some cultures like Ethiopia, they are respected and are
considered as custodians of tradition, culture, and history.
• As situations are changing, care and support for older
people tend to decline.
• Globally, their number is increasing and ageism is a widely
observed social problem.
• Ageism refers to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination
of men and women based on their age.
• Aged people are good at mentoring younger people,
resolving disputes, and restoring peace across Ethiopia,
• Modernization, globalization and urbanization are changing
family structures and living patterns
• This, in turn, is complicating the lives of older peoples
• They are being denied of the care and support they need,
• They are considered as social burdens and are excluded
from social, cultural, political and economic interactions in
their communities.
4.5. Religious and Ethnic Minorities
• Religious and ethnic minorities are a group of people who
differ in race or color or in national, religious, or cultural
origin from the dominant group. Because of such difference,
they are often discrimination/prosecuted.
• This problem is not limited to specific areas, regions or
countries.
• However, the level and impact of such marginalization is
different depending on the contexts,
• and is mostly manifested in the form of discrimination
and/or prosecution. E.g.
Jews people in Germany and other parts of the world
were ill-treated and killed because of the identity.
Muslim Rohingyas of Nyanmar are marginalized and
prosecuted because of their religion.
4.6. Human Right Approaches and Inclusiveness:
Anthropological perspectives
• The human right approaches are fundamentally against all
form of marginalization and discrimination.
• It is an international standards and operationally directed
to promoting and protecting human rights.
• It intends to empower the people to know and claim
their rights.
• The human rights approach promotes:
– Inclusive services and equal opportunity.
– The right to be free from harmful traditional practices
(early and/or forced marriage, FGM, gender-based
violence)
– The right to survival, development, participation.
4.7. The interplay between Anthropology, Cultural diversity
and Human Rights Approach
• We live in a rapidly changing world bringing various
cultures in closer interaction with each other.
• This interaction can be positive or negative = cultural
relativism or ethnocentrism
• Anthropology appreciates cultural diversity and
communality
• The principle of cultural relativity = understanding all
cultures relative to its respective context.
• It underlines the importance of understanding the values,
norms, customs and practices of a particular culture in its
own context.

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Unit 4: Marginalized, Minorities, and Vulnerable

• Studies show that there are occupationally marginalized

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