What does marginality mean?
Marginality is the condition of being on the edge of a group, institution, or larger social order, rather than fully within its center. The word is especially important in the social sciences, where it describes the exclusion, invisibility, or disadvantage experienced by people who lack access to dominant institutions, resources, or forms of representation. It can also describe any peripheral position: a practice near the boundary of an established field, a group with limited influence, or an activity receiving little attention. Because marginality usually implies an unequal relationship between those at the center and those at the edge, it often carries a critical or evaluative force. In general use, it may sound formal, but the concept is widely relevant to discussions of class, race, gender, disability, geography, and political participation. The related term marginalization is more commonly used for the process by which exclusion occurs.
nounMarginality is the state of being on the edge of a group, activity, or area of importance, and thus receiving limited attention or recognition. In social analysis, it refers to the exclusion or relative disadvantage of people who do not fully belong to the dominant social, political, or economic mainstream.
- The state of being on the edge of a group, system, or area of importance, especially when this involves limited recognition or participation.
- The social, political, or economic exclusion or relative disadvantage of people who are not fully included in the dominant mainstream.
"The study examined how unemployment contributes to the social marginality of rural communities."
"The arrival of new technologies can reduce the marginality of small local publishers."
"She discussed the marginality of rural workers in the modern labour market."
The plural is grammatically correct but uncommon in ordinary usage.
"The study compares the social marginalities experienced by several minority groups."
Marginality names the experience of being close to a society’s center of power while being denied its full benefits and voice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does marginality come from?
Marginality was formed in the 19th century from marginal, meaning “placed near an edge,” plus the suffix -ity. Marginal derives from Latin marginalis, from margo, meaning “edge, border, or boundary.” The same Latin root underlies margin and margarite, a word originally referring to a kind of pearl or stone associated with the border of a shell.
Related word forms
How marginality is actually used
The term is often academic or analytical. In discussions of identity and inequality, it generally carries a negative social connotation, although it can also be used neutrally to describe a peripheral economic or cultural position.
Easily confused with marginality
Marginality describes the condition or state of being on the edge of a group or sphere, whereas marginality describes a marginal position, value, or tendency.
Marginality emphasizes exclusion or relative disadvantage, while a minority is primarily a group that is numerically or politically smaller than the dominant group.