What gives the right of one nation to exalt itself over another and belittle dignity and rights? Segregation, as a relic of the past, is still preserved in some countries and is not limited only to the division between nations, but also exists in fact in society in various spheres: politics, religion, ideology.
Segregation - what is it?
Segregation is a form of racial discrimination, consisting in the forced separation of a certain group of people on an ethnically racial or religious basis. The long history of the formation of mankind abounds in the depreciation of some peoples by others, often only on the basis of dissimilarity in skin color and way of life and traditions. Since ancient times, people with white skin color have imagined themselves dominant over color nationalities. The colonization of the lands of India, Africa, and North America is proof of this.
An example of such a division is apartheid - the policy of racial segregation of the Bantu peoples in the South African Republic officially existed until 1994. The essence of segregation was as follows:
- separate residence of the Bantu in specially fenced-off reservations;
- deprivation of civil rights;
- the worst quality of medical care;
- departure from reservations only by special permits, which were difficult to obtain;
- performance of only a certain type of work;
- separate: public transport, hospitals, schools, universities.
Segregation in Psychology
Segregation in psychology - these are certain established stereotypes in relations between people, when a person perceives another person through the prism of installations more often negative, formed in a given society: status, religion, etc. Social psychology studies the phenomenon of segregation, which is clearly manifested in a teenage environment where there are divisions into "one's own" and "others" and every teenager to become one of "his own" is initiated and forced to obey the laws of the group if he does not want to become an outcast.
Types of segregation
Ethnos living on planet Earth are characterized by their unique and distinct features and characteristics - all this gives a peculiar flavor, nature loves diversity. But for some reason, suddenly, according to these various signs, there is a division not only among nations, but also in society as a whole. Segregation begins to influence the various strata and spheres of society.
Forms of segregation:
- cultural;
- Sexual;
- anthropological;
- caste (class);
- professional;
- status (social).
Social segregation
What does segregation mean in society? Social segregation is divided into actual (de facto), which arises spontaneously, by itself in the process of social development, and legal (de jure) - legalized by the authorities: restriction in various kinds of social rights. Examples of legal segregation that exists in our day:
- Tourist apartheid in Cuba - local residents are not allowed to use all kinds of services that are only for tourists.
- Peasant segregation in the PRC - rural residents do not have the right to move to cities.
Racial segregation
Black segregation has existed in the US for more than two centuries, but in fact much longer and can be traced in educational institutions. The infamous ultra-right organization of the Ku Klux Klan flourished in the 1860s. and put forward ideas of the superiority of whites over black - brutally dealt with the blacks. Other examples of racial discrimination:
- the ban on mixed marriages between Americans and the Japanese;
- almost complete extermination of the Indians of North America and the seizure of their lands in the XIX century.
Gender segregation
The child learns, develops the surrounding space, interacts with representatives of the opposite sex. The game space clearly distributes games to boys: tanks, shooting, racing and girls: a shop, daughter-mothers, handicrafts. Gender segregation is a division into groups according to the generality of the biological sex, psychological identity. Often there is a phenomenon when a boy and a girl are friends and prefer to have a joint pastime - this causes a negative response from other children and the expression "the bride and groom!" Sounds like an insult.
In adulthood, gender segregation is manifested in settings:
- between a man and a woman friendship and trusting relationships are impossible, there is always a sexual overtones;
- high positions in politics and economy are subject only to men.
Cultural segregation
The culture of different countries and ethnic groups, formed over many centuries, is a public domain and cultural segregation today is a multifaceted process that influences the future and allows preserving the traditions and customs of countries in an unchanged, traditional way. Segregation in culture is carried out through isolation, a separate position and independence, manifested in the absence of assimilation (absorption by the culture of another ethnos) and tolerance to other cultures at a "distance".
Occupational segregation
Professional segregation is the asymmetry and inequality in the labor market and professions that are closely related to gender segregation. Historically, women have always been more vulnerable than the stronger sex, which encouraged them to fight for their rights. There are 2 types of occupational segregation:
- Horizontal - all professions are divided into "male" and "female", which is due to gender roles . A woman is more like a nurse, a nanny, a housewife, a cook, a teacher, a secretary. A man is a doctor, an official, a scientist-academician, a financial analyst. A woman has to work several times harder to achieve success in "male" professions.
- Vertical segregation is the low availability of elite and prestigious occupations for women in the sectors of politics, economy, business. For clarity, the following concepts are used:
- "Glass ceiling" - a certain level in the career, beyond which it is difficult to grow;
- "Sticky sex" - the tendency of women to linger long on starting positions or unpromising positions.
Causes of segregation
The problems of segregation in a modern, fast-growing society are more important than ever. Why segregation exists de facto, there are many explanations for this and every kind of segregation has its own background. Reasons for segregation:
- Xenophobia - an unconscious fear of a stranger, unlike anyone else, can underlie racial and cultural segregation.
- Patterns and stereotypes of society - the set up over many centuries of the installation in the mind, interfering with thinking differently, in a new way. Characteristic for gender and social segregation.
- Personal reasons for a single individual society, based on egocentrism, feelings of superiority. Such people become ideological inspirers of various kinds of parties and contribute to the maintenance of segregation in society.