Segregate

To set apart, isolate, or separate individuals or groups from the general population or from each other, often based on characteristics like race, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status. Segregation can involve physical separation, as in separate schools or neighborhoods, or more subtle forms of exclusion through policies and social practices. It is a practice with a deeply rooted history of discrimination and unequal treatment, leading to significant social, economic, and political disparities. The act of segregating can also be applied to inanimate objects, as in separating recyclable materials from non-recyclables.

Segregate meaning with examples

• During the Jim Crow era, the American South used legal segregation, forcing African Americans to use separate public facilities from white people. This systemic discrimination was deeply damaging, denying basic rights and opportunities based on race. The practice was eventually outlawed, marking a significant step towards equality.
• The school board's decision to segregate students based on their academic performance has been met with considerable criticism. Opponents argue that such a practice can lead to unequal opportunities for advancement and reinforce existing socioeconomic disparities within the student population.
• In certain historical periods, religious communities were segregated within cities, resulting in distinct neighborhoods with unique cultures and traditions, but also potential for social division and prejudice, based on differences in beliefs and practices.
• Following the devastating earthquake, the relief organization made a point of avoiding segregating refugees in the aid distribution process, ensuring everyone received assistance irrespective of their background, and creating safe spaces.
• The automated recycling plant segregate different materials through a system of conveyors, optical sorters and manual pickers, thereby ensuring the different waste materials are sorted according to their types for further recycling and disposal.