Minority group

The term "minority group" means a group with fewer people than the rest of the population. Usually, this group does not have as much power as the larger group.

In some places, a group can be called a minority even if it has more people, if it does not have the power. For example, in South Africa during Apartheid, white Europeans had most of the power, even though black Africans were more numerous. So, black Africans were considered the minority group.

Minority groups are often different because of things like ethnicity, race, religion (religious minority), or disability. Sometimes, a person can belong to more than one minority group.

People in minority groups can face unfair treatment in many parts of life, like finding a home or getting a job. Supporters of minority rights work to create laws that help protect these groups and give them equal rights.

Definitions

The word "minority" has changed over time. In the past, it described small political groups. Later, after a big meeting in 1919, it began to describe people who were different from most others in a country because of their race, religion, or language.

Today, a minority group is people who are treated unfairly because of how they look or their cultural background. These groups often feel united because of how they are treated and usually share rules about who belongs to them. Some people think calling a group a "minority" just because it is smaller isn't always fair.

Examples

Racial and ethnic minorities

Racial minorities are groups of people who face unfair treatment because of their race. This idea started in Europe and the United States when these places were exploring and settling other parts of the world. In the United States, rules like the "one-drop rule" have affected how people are treated.

Ethnic minorities are groups with shared culture, language, or history. In some places, like the United Kingdom, people are grouped by ethnicity rather than race. This includes many groups, even those who are considered white.

National minorities

A national minority is a group within a country that is different from most people in culture, language, or religion. They often have strong ties to a specific area where their ancestors lived.

Involuntary minorities

Involuntary minorities are people who came to a society without choosing to. In the United States, this includes groups like Native Americans and African Americans, who were brought to the country through force.

Voluntary minorities

Voluntary minorities are immigrants who move to a new country looking for better opportunities. They work hard to succeed and fit in, though this can be difficult at first.

Gender and sexuality minorities

Some people have relationships or identities that differ from the majority, such as those who are LGBTQ+. These individuals often face unfair treatment and unequal rights in many parts of the world.

Disabled people

Disabled people have faced unfair treatment and a lack of rights for much of history. Movements for disability rights have helped change this, showing that differences in ability do not mean someone is less valuable. Some groups, like the deaf community, see themselves as part of a culture.

Religious minorities

Religious minorities are people whose faith is different from most people in their country. In many places, they face restrictions or unfair treatment, though in some countries, people are free to choose or change their religion.

Women as a disadvantaged group

Even though men and women are about equal in number, women often face unequal treatment and fewer opportunities than men. This is especially true in parts of the world with fewer resources and less education.

Law and government

In some countries, a "minority" can mean an ethnic group that has special rights under the law. For example, people who speak a minority language might have the right to learn or use their own language. Countries like Canada, China, Germany, India, and the Netherlands have special rules to protect minority groups.

Not all minority groups get the same protection. Some groups are very small and do not have special rights. Some countries, like the United States, group people by race and ethnicity instead of by national minorities. People have different ideas about whether special rights for minorities help or hurt a country, but many think protecting minorities helps everyone live together better.