What is segregation
As segregation we call the marginalization and exclusion imposed on a group of people for racial, social, religious or cultural reasons.
This separation can be imposed by laws, public policies or social norms, manifesting itself in different areas of society, such as education, housing, employment, transportation and public spaces.
The word ‘segregation’ comes from Latin segregation, segregatiōnis, which was used in that language to refer to individuals who separated from a flock.
In modern times, this word has frequently been used to indicate the social or legal barriers that limit the freedom of action of a group of people due to their distinctive characteristics.
Segregation occurs in different forms depending on the culture and sociohistorical context. Among the forms it takes are:
Racial segregation: exclusion of people due to skin color.
Ethnic segregation: marginalization of a minority that comes from an ethnicity or culture other than the dominant one.
religious segregation: marginalization of people practicing certain religious denominations.
Urban or territorial segregation: separation of the residential neighborhoods of a city depending on the social group to which they belong.
Social segregation
Social segregation can manifest itself in selective access to work, health, education, basic resources or private property by privileged social groups to the detriment of others.
When accentuated, segregation gives way to segregationismwhich is the politically instituted practice to separate, exclude and separate certain social groups.
The segregation It is a serious social problem that can create deep cracks in coexistence in a society. It is advisable to face it from a perspective of social equality to seek the common well-being and inclusion of all citizens.
Example of social and racial segregation
An important episode in American history is known as “the Jim Crow era,” which spans from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.
During this era, laws were passed and policies were implemented that enforced separation by “law” between white and black people. The Jim Crow era was characterized by systematic discrimination, racial violence, and intimidation toward the African-American population in the southern states of the United States.
See also:
Other types of segregation
Segregation of functions
At the organizational level, the method by which organizations separate the different responsibilities related to the preparation of financial statements, the authorization and registration of transactions, and the custody of assets is known as segregation of functions. The objective of the segregation of functions is to have greater internal control and prevent errors, fraud or irregularities in the processes that may compromise the integrity of the operations.
Segregation in biology
In genetics, a branch of biology, the process by which two homologous chromosomes, one paternal and the other maternal, separate during meiosis, is called segregation. In this process, the alleles of a locus are also separated, resulting in each allele passing to a different gamete.
See also Meiosis.