Constructing the Meaning of Social Exclusion among the Poor in Mashhad

Social exclusion means the rejection of people from society and its resources and opportunities, and poor people are among those who are more vulnerable to social exclusion. However, research that looks at the phenomenon of social exclusion from the perspective of poor people has been less done in our country. The aim of this study was to explore the feelings and experiences of disadvantaged people regarding social exclusion and to further identify the characteristics of exclusion and its relationship with poverty. For this purpose, qualitative method and interview tools have been used. The interviewees were 18 poor people in Mashhad and the sampling in this study was theoretical sampling. The data obtained from these interviews were analyzed by the content analysis technique of Brown and Clark (2006). The findings of this study indicate two main types of social exclusion. Exclusion of interactions that include exclusion from family and relatives, and reduced interactions with individuals, and exclusion of socio-economic opportunities that include exclusion from financial resources (inaccessibility of loans and facilities), exclusion from the labor market (inaccessibility of employment), and Lack of proper support by government organizations and institutions.