Introducation

Discuss About The Changing Social Networks Home Individuals?

Marginalization is a term that is used to refer to the state of being socially disadvantaged in the society. The term is used mostly in fields like economics, sociology and education as well as in politics (Darcy et al, 2009). It refers to the people in the society who have certain specific issue with their bodies, health or living status. Some examples of marginalized groups are poor people, homeless people, depressed people and individuals with mental illness among others. These people are often left out or are never included in the social sector or operations of the society. This leaves them vulnerable and lacking social inclusion. The dynamics of Australian’s demography and population change has led to increased numbers of people under the marginalized category. Research has shown that the Australian government is working very hard to ensure that these group of individuals are taken care of and included in the community operations (Tually et al, 2011). Basically, this is what the government of any country or the society should work towards. They should ensure that every individual has a sense of belonging and feel valued. In that case, the Australian government and other organizations related to society development and growth have been working hard to ensure the inclusion of the marginalized group in the society operations (Tually et al, 2011).

Social stigma refers to overrated disapproval or discontent with an individual on the bases of their social status or physical appearance.

A wheel chair in the eyes of many normal people, is a necessary but undesirable clinical equipment. It is often viewed as a symbol of disability. The wheelchair users have always been viewed as people who need assessment and prescription from a doctor instead of individuals with preferences and power to choose just like other normal people (Sapey et al, 2007). Therefore, stigma is something that can affect their way or view of life negatively. Social stigma can make wheelchair users to feel rejected, worthless, frustrated, angry, isolated and alone among other feelings (Lucas et al, 2012). The social stigma can effect the health of wheelchair users in a negative way. The fact is that most of the wheelchair users have untreatable diseases or have lost their legs and that’s the reason why they need a wheelchair. However, when stigmatized frequently, their health may not be affected directly, but their healing process (in case it is anticipated) is slowed to very low levels.

Effects Of Social Stigma On Health

The visually impaired persons are people with low vision abilities or rather low ability to see. Even with corrective lenses, they may not see an object clearly because of the interference during the image procession in the person’s eye. This means that they may not be able to read, drive, driving or socializing properly and without problems. Visually impaired people are also faced with stigmatization from the normal people as well. At times they are avoided or disapproved which may influence their adjustment and socializing ability among other people (Papadaki et al, 2013). They are viewed as people who need doctor’s care and attention instead of people who need normal life treatment and acceptance by others. These people are faced with stigmatization in their homes, schools, places of work and social environments among other places. They are treated as people who always need help even when they do not or rather when they can do it on their own. In that case, the visually impaired face a lot of challenges whenever looking for a job, socializing with new people or trying to perform an activity. This is a clear indication that the stigmatization can impact the visually impaired in terms of emotions, thought, behavior and relationships. This can also have a negative effect on their health indirectly. This decreases their chances of being better because of their negative view towards life as well as their condition.

In the current world and economy, poor people have been seen as marginalized or disabled. This has led to them being stigmatized just like any other physically disabled person in the society including in Australia. When the effects of stigmatization are addresses in a normal discussion, the society is likely to see homeless or poor people as the cause of their own state. The society fails to consider the forces and factors that may have led them to be in that state, e.g. unemployment, limited choices for affordable houses, lack of kinship networks to name a few (Johnstone et al, 2016). These are some of the main (social and economic) factors that have contributed to the existence of homeless people. However, stigmatization occurs in situation with unique social, economic and political status. In such situations, the homeless people are prone to immense discrimination. The negative attitude towards these people has recently increased especially in Australia. One of the main aspects that is inherent in homeless people is their inability to groom or clean well which makes the public to view them as unappealing which is a form of discrimination and stigmatization (Gray et al, 2016). In addition to that, such views make the homeless people feel threatened, unworthy, no longer useful or functional among other things. This kind of stigmatization can lead to other conditions like mental illness and substance abuse.

Wheelchair Users

In Australia, approximately 4million people living with disability are today on the verge of being treated unfairly by the public or other normal people. This is because, the group is at a risk of not being provided with the basic human rights like other normal people (Shakespeare, 2013). In addition to that, they have not always been given a priority towards a luxurious lifestyle that the normal people have. In other words, almost every Australian with disability experiences human right violation at some point in life while other experience it on a daily basis. Until year 2011, a large number of disabled people in Australia were thought of as less useful and nonfunctional to the society. This led to them undergoing experiences like isolation, sometimes starvation to death, withdrawal of medications and treatments from their reach, sexual assaults and other kinds of assaults. People with disability experience human rights violation in other areas or aspects of life like in education and training, employment, access to services, public transport, voting access to name a few (www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/access-premises).  This clearly shows that there were no specific rules and regulations or laws that protected these group of people. In general terms, some of the human rights violations that challenge people with disability include: freedom of expression, opinion and access to information, equal recognition before the law and access to justice, freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse, children with disability and respect for home and family, freedom to good housing to name a few.

These group is deemed disabled because they cannot walk on their own except with the help of a wheelchair. They have challenges especially during transportation e.g. in an airplane. Most of the wheelchair users lack access to toilets hence leading to urinate either in a bottle in their seats. Others also lack something to drink for long hours of travel because they cannot have access to a drink. Research has shown that around 90% of wheelchair users are forced not to take any drink before a flight because of the problem of accessing airline toilets. They also have other challenges during ticket booking and entering the airplane.

They face discrimination when it comes to searching for employment, purchasing of goods or services, access to information especially by the media, voting access (Ellis et al, 2017). At most times, the employers find it unreasonable to make office changes just because of one/two people. A business finds it expensive to provide its customers with invoices hat are accessible to the visually impaired individuals in the society.

Visual Impaired

They experience violation of one of the most basic needs and rights of a human being, which is lack of access to safe and secure housing. In that case, these people lack the right for family, friends and community connections. This makes it difficult for them to have control over their own life and surrounding environment (Johnstone et al, 2015). Other violations that may accompany homeless people are: violation to adequate living standards, right to education, right to liberty and security, right to social security, right to privacy etc.

Recently there are some laws that have been set up to govern them and protect the marginalized group from being socially stigmatized and disrespected. The CRPD Australia has come to recognize people with disability and therefore giving equal rights and treatment to them just like other normal people (Australian Human Rights Commission’s disability discrimation guide.). In addition to that, they have come up with suitable ways to include and encourage the disabled people to participate in community development and growth (Lucas et al, 2012). There are strategies designed to encourage people with disability to participate in formal structure and institutions of the economy society and country (Adjustments In The Workplace For People With Disabilities). Through this they will be able to access all the goods and services as well as enjoy the benefits that the Australian government has set for every citizen. Additionally, the government has amended the country’s laws and guaranteed equal opportunities in employment, transportation, access to government services and facilities, access to information, public accommodations e.g. restaurants, theaters, retail stores, schools, libraries, parks and museums to name a few.

The Australian government is working on ways of improving their access to facilities like airplanes, washrooms and other buildings like any other normal person (Bray et al, 2014). The government has also focused on offering reasonable accommodation to those in wheelchairs in the country.

The government is focused on ensuring that they can access information as much as other people e.g. in televisions and computers. There are trainings on use of brails in computers and televisions being offered to the blind and those who can see even with corrective lenses(Liu et al, 2010. The government has ensured that they are given equal treatment in their work areas.

The government has ensures that they are provided reasonable housing and accommodations services. There are also opportunities to train and educate them on ways of earning a living on their own and providing for themselves.

Homeless People

Conclusion

From the report, I can say that the marginalized people in Australia are facing a lot of challenges on a daily basis. The people who use wheelchairs experience challenges that are mostly related with walking on their own, the visually impaired are challenges by issues relating to vision and the homeless are challenges by issues relating to housing and accommodation. However, the Australian government has come to recognize and respect the people with disability. It has focused on making their lives better and seem normal just like the lives of people without disability. This has been possible through the introduction and implementation of laws and rules that govern and protect these peoples’ lives

References

Australian Human Rights Commission’s disability discrimation guide.

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www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/access-premises