Question

widening our universe of obligation
in a society, the universe of obligation extends beyond individual connections to include
broader groups with whom there may be less direct contact. this concept plays a key role in
the way communities and nations decide who to include and protect. historical movements
often demonstrate the expansion of a nation’s universe of obligation to incorporate previously
excluded groups.

• the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s in the united states expanded the

u.s.’s universe of obligations to include black people and other diverse racial, ethnic, and
gender groups. subsequent movements fought for greater inclusion of latinos, native
americans, and women in the u.s. universe of obligation.

• national policies and social attitudes can reflect a nation’s universe of obligation, which

determines who is protected or marginalized.

• the expansion of a nation’s universe of obligations is shaped by shifts in cultural

awareness and policy, often prompted by advocacy and societal change.

• shared beliefs, values, and historical experiences help define whom a society feels

responsible for and to whom it extends its protections and care.
what does it mean when a group of people is outside a
nation’s universe of obligation?

• those people are protected by the government, regardless of universe of

obligation.

• those people are still protected by laws thanks to their community’s

universe of obligation.

• those people are marginalized, falling outside of the limits of whom the

government protects.

Explanation:

The text defines a nation’s universe of obligation as the groups it includes and protects. So, a group outside this universe would not be protected by the government and would be marginalized (as stated in the text: "National policies... determine who is protected or marginalized"). The first two options say the group is still protected, which contradicts the concept. The third option matches the definition of being outside the universe (marginalized, not protected).

Answer:

Those people are marginalized, falling outside of the limits of whom the government protects.