Poor, oppressed and at-risk populations

• Poor, oppressed and at-risk populations

Poor, oppressed and at-risk populations

Introduction

The Global South is a term used to describe countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It also includes countries with large populations of immigrants and refugees. The Global South has historically been subject to oppression, but it is now more empowered than ever before. In this post I will discuss five groups who are particularly marginalized in the U.S.: women, LGBTIQ+ people, people with disabilities, people from racialized groups and Muslims/Jewish communities both Muslim and Jewish).

The Global South

The Global South is a term used to describe the poorer countries of the world. The opposite of “the Global North,” it describes countries with large populations living under extreme poverty and inequality, as well as those where governments are corrupt or oppressive.

Women

Women are underrepresented in politics and earn less than men. They are more likely to be victims of domestic violence, and less likely to be hired for STEM jobs due to stereotypes about their abilities.

In addition, there is a lack of women in leadership positions: only 20 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. This needs to change so that we can have more women leaders who can make positive changes for our society as a whole

LGBTIQ+ people

LGBTIQ+ people are subject to discrimination and violence. They’re not protected by the law in many countries, which leaves them at risk of being kicked out of their homes or losing custody of their children if they come out.

LGBTIQ+ people are often denied access to adequate health care because of their sexual orientation or gender identity; this can lead to a higher risk for HIV infection, as well as other diseases that affect LGBTIQ+ communities (including tuberculosis).

Immigrants and refugees

Immigrants and refugees are people who leave their home country to live in another. Immigrants are people who move to a new country permanently, while refugees are those who move to a new country temporarily because of war or violence in their home country.

Immigrants come from all over the world and can be classified as one of three groups: economic migrants (people looking for better jobs), asylum seekers (people seeking protection from persecution) or family reunification immigrants (those who apply for visas on behalf of relatives). Refugees flee their countries due to political strife or violence; they often have no choice but to leave everything behind if they want safety and security here in Canada.

People with disabilities

People with disabilities are a group that is often ignored and excluded. However, this isn’t because they don’t exist–rather, it’s because they’re often lumped into one category of people who aren’t considered worthy of being included in society.

The reality is that there are many different types of disabilities: physical, mental illness-related conditions and other conditions such as learning disabilities (which can be treated through therapy or medication) are just a few examples. People with disabilities deserve to be treated like everyone else; their rights must be respected by all members of society so that all people have equal chances at success in life

People from racialized groups

You’re probably familiar with the concept of racialized groups. These are defined by their race, and they have been historically oppressed. For example, people who identify as black or African-American are racialized in this way.

The most recent Census data shows that these groups are more likely to be poor and at-risk:

• Black or African American (B/AA) Americans are more than twice as likely to live in poverty–34% compared with 14% for whites–and less than half as likely to have a college degree compared with other races.
• Latinx Americans (Latino/a) also have higher rates of poverty than non-Hispanic whites: 54% vs 38%. And Latinx income inequality is much greater than other races’ when comparing those earning less than $15k per year versus those earning between $15k-$50k per year; only 22% of Latina/os fall into this category while 37% fall below 50K annually.*

Muslims and Jewish communities (both Muslim and Jewish) in the U.S.

Both Muslims and Jews are religious minorities in the U.S., though they have different histories and experiences. Both communities have been subject to discrimination and violence since 9/11, when many people believed that Islamic terrorists were planning to attack the United States.

Jews have also been subject to hatred for centuries–the term “anti-Semitism” comes from an old Greek word meaning “against us.” According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “Anti-Semitism is hostility toward Jews as members of a particular religious or ethnic group.”

Both groups have been at risk for hate crimes since Trump was elected president, especially because he promised during his campaign that he would deport undocumented immigrants who were Muslim–and some people believe that these two groups share similar characteristics (such as being foreign).

These groups were historically subject to oppression, but have become more empowered in modern times.

In the past, these groups were often oppressed and marginalized. Today, however, they have become more empowered.

You can do your part to support these populations by:

• Donating to organizations that support these groups (e.g., Black Lives Matter or Planned Parenthood)
• Helping an immigrant in need of legal services or a job find one

Conclusion

We hope that by understanding the history and current state of oppression in these groups, you will be better equipped to advocate on behalf of marginalized communities. While some groups should be more concerned with their own individual rights than others, all are worthy of advocacy efforts—in fact, it is important for us all to stand up together against those who would seek harm against any group or individual.