Social and political vulnerability, as explored within the literature of precarity, addresses how marginalized groups, such as migrants, refugees, and ethnic minorities, experience heightened instability and insecurity due to systemic discrimination, exclusion, and political disenfranchisement. This literature examines the structural factors that contribute to the precarious conditions of these groups and their struggles for rights and recognition.
Key Aspects of Social and Political Vulnerability
1. Systemic Discrimination and Exclusion
Marginalized groups often face systemic discrimination in various forms, including racial, ethnic, gender, and legal discrimination. This discrimination contributes to their social and political vulnerability, limiting their access to resources, rights, and opportunities.
Ulrik Schierup and Martin Bak Jørgensen, in Politics of Precarity: Migrant Conditions, Struggles, and Experiences, explore how migrants often find themselves excluded from formal labor markets and social protections due to their legal status. This exclusion exacerbates their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse, making it difficult for them to secure stable and decent employment (Schierup & Jørgensen, 2016).
2. Legal and Political Disenfranchisement
Many marginalized groups are legally and politically disenfranchised, lacking the rights and protections afforded to citizens. This disenfranchisement leaves them vulnerable to various forms of exploitation and abuse.
Judith Butler’s work on precariousness and vulnerability highlights the unequal distribution of precarity based on who is seen as human and worthy of protection. In Precarious Life: The Power of Mourning and Violence, Butler argues that political and social structures determine whose lives are considered valuable and grievable, thereby influencing their access to rights and protections (Butler, 2004).
3. Intersectionality and Multiple Forms of Oppression
Social and political vulnerability is often shaped by intersecting forms of oppression, including race, gender, class, and citizenship status. These intersecting vulnerabilities create complex and compounded forms of precarity.
Kavita Daiya, in Graphic Migrations: Precarity and Gender in India and the Diaspora, examines how gender intersects with other forms of identity to shape the experiences of precarious workers. Daiya discusses how women, particularly those in diasporic communities, face multiple layers of vulnerability due to their gender, ethnicity, and migrant status (Daiya, 2020).
4. Struggles for Rights and Recognition
Despite their vulnerability, marginalized groups often engage in struggles for rights and recognition. These struggles are critical for challenging systemic discrimination and achieving social and political inclusion.
Chris Hann and Jonathan Parry, in Industrial Labor on the Margins of Capitalism: Precarity, Class, and the Neoliberal Subject, discuss how marginalized workers organize and mobilize to fight for their rights and improve their working conditions. These efforts are crucial for addressing the social and political vulnerabilities they face (Hann & Parry, 2018).
Case Studies and Examples
Migrant Workers and Social Exclusion
Schierup and Jørgensen analyze the conditions of migrant workers who are often excluded from formal labor markets due to their legal status. This exclusion not only limits their employment opportunities but also exposes them to exploitation and abuse by employers who take advantage of their precarious situation (Schierup & Jørgensen, 2016).
Gendered Vulnerability in Diasporic Communities
Daiya’s examination of gender and precarity in diasporic communities highlights how women face compounded vulnerabilities due to their intersecting identities. This includes facing discrimination both within their communities and in the broader society, which limits their access to stable employment and social protections (Daiya, 2020).
Conclusion
The literature on social and political vulnerability within the broader framework of precarity underscores the systemic and structural factors that contribute to the precarious conditions of marginalized groups. By examining the intersections of discrimination, legal disenfranchisement, and multiple forms of oppression, this body of work highlights the need for more inclusive and equitable social and political systems. It also emphasizes the importance of struggles for rights and recognition in addressing the vulnerabilities faced by these groups.
References
- Schierup, Ulrik, and Martin Bak Jørgensen, editors. Politics of Precarity: Migrant Conditions, Struggles, and Experiences. BRILL, 2016.
- Butler, Judith. Precarious Life: The Power of Mourning and Violence. Verso, 2004.
- Daiya, Kavita. Graphic Migrations: Precarity and Gender in India and the Diaspora. Temple University Press, 2020.
- Hann, Chris, and Jonathan Parry, editors. Industrial Labor on the Margins of Capitalism: Precarity, Class, and the Neoliberal Subject. Berghahn Books, 2018.
Literary Latitude 