Title: Marginalized Populations
Headings: Marginalized Populations
Marginalized Populations
Content: GLBT
Senior citizens
Racial/Cultural minorities
Military Combat Veterans
Persons of below average intelligence
Hearing, visually, and Physically Challenged Persons
Persons with a serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI)
Persons with Cognitive Impairments
Gamblers and Substance Abusers
Autism Spectrum Persons
Gifted and Talented Persons
Persons with disfigurements
Persons Living in Poverty
Sex Offenders
The Homeless
Felons
While this is only a listing of those most commonly referred to as marginalized, there are other individual people who just do not fit into mainstream culture, and suffer the same consequences. Such persons are all around us but virtually invisible…unless they cause problems or disrupt the lifestyles of mainstream persons. Significant disparities exist for marginalized people in every aspect of their lives such as health care, employment, legal rights under the law, housing, and access to services. They are often the silent and invisible victims of discrimination, violence, social stigma, and assault. Sometimes they are abused by bullies and predators or exploited and mistreated by caregivers, family, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and professionals. Those of us who feel a sense of personal empowerment in our lives may see the marginalized as being somewhere or someplace else, and not within our living circle. The marginalized are very skilled in keeping a low profile. They have been repeatedly hurt, and aware of the stereotypes applied to their group. They are all around us, right in our community, on the job, or residing in our own homes. They are our children, siblings, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, and partners.