Understanding Social Exclusion and Inclusion Strategies

Primary Causes of Social Exclusion

• Fragmentation of society: This becomes more complex due to the aging population and migration.
• New post-industrial economy: This economy gives more value to information and knowledge production; consequently, finding a steady job for young people has become slower.
• Flexibility in production processes: These create new jobs, but they are often of lower quality and more precarious.

Five Priority Areas for Social Inclusion

• Promote access to employment: This involves promoting participation in the labor market and the fight against poverty and social exclusion (this is directly related to our occupation).
• Ensure minimum economic resources.
• Achieving an equitable education.
• Support the social integration of immigrants.
• Ensure the care of persons in situations of dependency.

Defining Occupation in a Social Context

Occupation as Work

Occupation as work: These are activities taking place within the labor market. It is considered synonymous with work, employment, or occupation within workplaces. Occupation understood as work usually contains a financial reward in exchange for the activity.

Occupation and Activities

Occupation and activities: This refers to the use of time that a person intends for work, activity, or entertainment. Occupation, besides work, includes activities such as training, leisure, and recreation. Occupation may have a monetary reward or not, but it enjoys other compensations such as friendship, personal gain, etc.

Six Dimensions of Social Exclusion

• 1) Economic: Poverty, financial difficulties, and dependence on social protection systems.
• 2) Employment: Labor market exclusion is not just about the lack of jobs but also relates to situations of precarious employment.
• 3) Field Training: This includes lack of access to compulsory education by some groups (such as disabled people), lack of schooling in compulsory stages, illiteracy, school failure, early exit from the school system, and language barriers.
• 4) Socio-Health Scope: Health is the primary factor, followed by access to systems and social resources. People who suffer from mental illnesses often lack access to resources as required.
• 5) Residential Area: Factors such as housing (poor housing quality, limited access to housing, poor conditions, lack of space, and poor environmental conditions).
• 6) Relational Scope: Factors include impaired family and social networks (lack of contact with the family of origin, poor community relations where one lives, elderly individuals who live alone, and family violence).