Health and social care in contexts of marginalization and social exclusion

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Volume 9, Issue 1

A focus that extends only to questions of the entitlement of migrants and minority ethnic groups to health and social care may tell us little about the lived realities of the problems they face on a day to basis. Migration and social exclusion may be said to exclude migrants and minority groups in three distinctive but interrelated ways. First, it may push these groups to the margins of cities and communities, thus making it very hard for them to access services. Second, social exclusion and marginalization may make it difficult for these groups to access the materials needed to sustain and enhance their well-being, such as appropriate foods and medicines. Finally, it may criminalize cultural practices seen by the groups as components of social life and social bonding.

The present collection of papers address issues of marginalization and social exclusion in a variety of ways. Girard and Serica demonstrate in their study of migrants food insecurity in Montreal that, even in highly developed and affluent countries, migrants may face formidable challenges accessing culturally appropriate and necessary foodstuffs. Briggs, in his study of Los Gitanos(Gypsies) in Spain demonstrates the ongoing marginalization of one minority group despite attempts at reintegration and the implications of this marginalization on the groups well-being. Murphy’s opening paper demonstrates the double marginalization that may be faced by those who are visually impaired who belong to a migrant group. Lokhande et al. draws attention towards marginal practices that carry negative health implications and the complexities of addressing these among migrant communities.

Charles Watters