if poverty is defined in relation to income or material deprivation social exclusion is defined in relation to such social rights as the right to work the right to housing the right to health services or the right to education lister for sen social exclusion means denial of freedoms people may be unable to take advantage of an opportunity because of deliberate policies or social practices active exclusion or as a result of complex webs of social processes without intentions from anyone passive exclusion social exclusion assigns a central role to social relational and unequal power relationships stewart et al