Social inequality and marignalization in Germany and Brazil

What is it about?

Social inequality always involves one group dominating another. In capitalist societies, this domination isn’t through individual owners or landholders but through impersonal forces like the state, laws, and capital. Those with wealth and social status set the standards for a “good life,” while most people struggle to reach them. At the very bottom are the marginalized—those who can’t even meet basic standards of dignity. This chapter focuses on them. Marginalization isn’t unique to any one country; it’s a global feature of capitalism. By using the same research methods in places as different as Brazil and Germany, we`ll show that the ways inequality is created and maintained are strikingly similar. Central to these processes is symbolic domination: the powerful make inequality seem natural and invisible. The chapter proceeds in three steps. First, it clarifies key ideas—like “class” and “habitus”—drawing on Pierre Bourdieu. Next, it traces the long history of the respectability divide from early capitalism to today. Finally, it defines the marginalized class and compares its situation in Brazil and Germany, highlighting common patterns in how this group is produced and reproduced.

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Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This chapter shows why studying the marginalized—those pushed to the very edges of society—is so important for understanding inequality under capitalism. Rather than focusing on the rich or the middle classes, it zooms in on people who lack the basic resources, respect, and opportunities that allow others to live what we call a “good life.” By doing so, it reveals how invisible forces keep them stuck at the bottom. First, the chapter explains key ideas from sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, like “class” (how people are grouped by wealth, education, and social connections) and “habitus” (the habits and mindsets we inherit from our social environment). These concepts help us see how social positions shape life chances. Next, it uncovers a historic “line of respectability” that developed alongside capitalism. This symbolic boundary separates those deemed “respectable”—who follow society’s rules and values, and usually have money and status—from everyone else. Those on the wrong side of this line are seen as unworthy, making it easier to ignore or blame them for their struggles. The real strength of the chapter is its global comparison. Using the same research methods, teams studied marginalized communities in Brazil and Germany. Despite vast cultural and economic differences, they found the same patterns: powerful groups create and maintain inequality through laws, state power, and capital—while hiding these processes behind symbols of respectability. This symbolic domination makes unfairness appear natural. By focusing on the marginalized and comparing two very different countries, the chapter proves that marginalization is not an accident or a local problem—it is a fundamental feature of capitalism everywhere. Understanding this is key to any effort to reduce inequality and build a more just society.