Definition
The enforced separation of different racial, ethnic, or social groups in housing, education, and public facilities. This system of institutionalized discrimination was designed to maintain social hierarchies and limit opportunities for marginalized groups.
Etymology
From Latin 'segregatus,' past participle of 'segregare' (to set apart from the flock), from 'se-' (apart) plus 'grex' (flock). The term evolved from describing the separation of animals to the systematic separation of human groups, gaining particular prominence during the Jim Crow era in the American South.
Kelly Says
Segregation wasn't just about separate facilities - it was a comprehensive system designed to ensure economic and social inequality lasted for generations! The 'separate but equal' doctrine was exposed as a lie when researchers found that segregated Black schools received one-tenth the funding of white schools, making integration about economic opportunity as much as social justice.
Translations
AFAfrikaans
segregasie
se-gre-ga-si
BGБългарски
сегрегация
se-gre-ga-tsi-ya
BNবাংলা
পৃথকীকরণ
prith-ki-ko-ron
CACatalà
segregació
se-gre-ga-SYO
CSČeština
segregace
se-gre-ga-tse
DADansk
adskillelse
ad-skil-lel-se
DEDeutsch
Trennung
TREN-nung
ELΕλληνικά
διαχωρισμός
di-a-kho-ri-zmos
ESEspañol
segregación
se-gre-ga-SYON
ETEesti
eraldamine
e-ral-da-mi-ne
EUEuskara
bereizketa
be-reiz-ke-ta
FAفارسی
جداسازی
jo-da-sa-zi
FISuomi
erottelu
e-rot-te-lu
FRFrançais
ségrégation
se-gre-ga-SYON
GLGalego
segregación
se-gre-ga-SYON
HRHrvatski
segregacija
se-gre-ga-tsi-ya
HUMagyar
szegregáció
se-gre-gaa-tsyo
IDBahasa Indonesia
pemisahan
pe-mi-sah-an
ITItaliano
segregazione
se-gre-ga-TSYO-ne
LTLietuvių
atskyrimas
at-sky-ri-mas
LVLatviešu
atdalīšana
at-da-lii-sha-na
MNМонгол
тусгаарлал
tus-gaar-lal
MSBahasa Melayu
pengasingan
peng-a-sing-an
MYမြန်မာ
ခွဲခြားမှု
hkwae-chya-hmu
NLNederlands
scheiding
skhai-ding
NONorsk
segregering
se-gre-ge-ring
PLPolski
segregacja
se-gre-ga-tsya
PTPortuguês
segregação
se-gre-ga-SOW
RORomână
segregare
se-gre-ga-re
RUРусский
сегрегация
sye-gre-ga-tsi-ya
SKSlovenčina
segregácia
se-gre-gaa-tsi-a
SLSlovenščina
ločevanje
lo-che-va-nye
SRСрпски
сегрегација
se-gre-ga-tsi-ya
SVSvenska
segregation
se-gre-ga-ti-on
SWKiswahili
utengano
u-te-nga-no
TAதமிழ்
பிரித்தல்
pi-rit-tal
TEతెలుగు
వేర్పాటు
ve-rpaa-tu
UKУкраїнська
сегрегація
se-gre-ga-tsi-ya
URاردو
علیحدگی
aleh-da-gi
VITiếng Việt
sự tách biệt
su tach biet
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Segregation laws enforced racial and gender separation. Language around segregation often carried gendered assumptions about women's 'proper place' alongside racist ideology.
Inclusive Usage
Use historically accurate terms. Frame as harm, not neutrally. Avoid language normalizing separation.
Inclusive Alternatives
["separation","exclusion","racial division"]
Empowerment Note
Women of color led desegregation: Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, and Black women activists were central to civil rights.