Of Margins and Marginality

Why are we concerned about margins? Marginality? And perhaps marginalisation? Perhaps because some of us are more privileged than others on the axes of gender, race, ethnicity, minority status, rurality, class, language, age, social identity and physical ability. Advantaged or disadvantaged positions influence access to resources and opportunities, blocking or enabling the propensity to improve choices, opportunities and rights. This unequal access creates vulnerability and renders individuals and groups weak and without protection. Persons with disabilities (PWDs), especially children, for instance, are disadvantaged, excluded, discriminated against and marginalised. Being unequal, due to denial of access, status, opportunity; and unjust distribution of resources and services, locates them at the margins- for no fault of theirs.

The concepts of margins, marginality, and marginalisation explain how individuals and groups are pushed to the fringes of society. Margin signifies a limit, establishing its perimeter. In a social context, it refers to areas or factions situated on the periphery of dominant dialogue, where perspectives, issues, and life sufferings may go unnoticed or belittled. Therefore, the margin offers a framework to analyse metaphorical, cultural, and spatial aspects of exclusion in each social context. Marginality, the outcome, surpasses geographical boundaries to represent a condition of being situated on the edge, characterised by susceptibility, vulnerability and restricted access to resources, particularly due to social and physical disabilities. At the margins, an individual or group is excluded from mainstream access to resources and dominant power centres. Therefore, its multidimensional nature is not limited to economics. It extends to social, political, cultural, and ecological dimensions. Groups experiencing marginality often lack access to capital, education, health services, and political representation, leading to relative deprivation. The realm of multidimensionality makes marginality systemic in nature, allowing the privileged dominant groups to preserve their power structures. Marginality, therefore, results from a multifaceted interaction of elements contributing to the continued marginalisation of specific individuals or groups, thereby sustaining a recurring pattern of exclusion. As an active process, marginalisation deepens the consequences and further worsens exclusion- of all kinds- social, cultural, spatial, and physical. Deliberate or systemic acts of exclusion marginalise individuals or groups, as evidenced by institutional practices and societal norms. Marginalisation alludes to power dynamics causing docility on the part of the marginalised, and dominance among the privileged and dominant forces (such as discriminatory institutions, social structures, or state policies) that cause the displacement

Thus, margin, marginality, and marginalisation shape socio-cultural, economic, and political dynamics of human societies. Understanding these ideas is vital for analysing inequality and structural exclusion. These concepts capture the complex dynamics between exclusion and inclusion, providing valuable insights into the hardships that marginalised communities and individuals encounter. To understand and comprehend the problematic aspects of margin and marginality, it is crucial to critically examine their conceptual foundations and investigate their profound consequences on individuals and groups located on the periphery- the margin.

This issue explores the situation, process and outcome of the margin through the contributions received from various quarters. Inviting you to peruse and ponder…