What Is Othering?

 

What Is Othering?

Othering is a phenomenon in which some individuals or groups are defined and labeled as not fitting in within the norms of a social group. It is an effect that influences how people perceive and treat those who are viewed as being part of the in-group versus those who are seen as being part of the out-group.

Othering also involves attributing negative characteristics to people or groups that differentiate them from the perceived normative social group.

It is an “us vs. them” way of thinking about human connections and relationships. This process essentially involves looking at others and saying "they are not like me" or "they are not one of us."

Othering is a way of negating another person's individual humanity and, consequently, those that are have been othered are seen as less worthy of dignity and respect.

On an individual level, othering plays a role in the formation of prejudices against people and groups. On a larger scale, it can also play a role in the dehumanization of entire groups of people which can then be exploited to drive changes in institutions, governments, and societies. It can lead to the persecution of marginalized groups, the denial of rights based on group identities, or even acts of violence against others.

Othering can be thought of as an antonym of belonging. Where belonging implies acceptance and inclusion of all people, othering suggests intolerance and exclusion.

Signs

Othering is often subtle and may involve unconscious assumptions about others. Here are some signs of this phenomenon:

• Attributing positive qualities to people who are like you and negative qualities to people who are different from you
• Believing that people who are different from you or your social group pose a threat to you or your way of life
• Feeling distrustful or upset with people of a social group even though you don’t know anyone from that group
• Refusing to interact with people because they are different from you or your social group
• Thinking that people outside your social group are not as intelligent, skilled, or as special as you and your group
• Thinking of people only in terms of their relationship with specific social groups without giving any thought to them as individuals

This phenomenon often happens without conscious effort or even awareness. People feel bias based on what they presume is the norm. While othering is sometimes apparent, it often functions as an almost invisible barrier that keeps people who are seen as outsiders from accessing opportunity and acceptance.

Types

Othering can be based on a wide range of attributes including:

• Age
• Disability
• Ethnicity, nationality, and race
• Gender identity, sex
• Language
• Occupation
• Political affiliation
• Religion
• Sexual orientation
• Skin color
• Socioeconomic status

Examples

While racial and religious othering are some of the most obvious examples, some types can be much less overt and apparent.

Rivalries can famously rage between sports teams and schools, but people may dislike others based on things like the grade they are in (e.g., “Freshmen are all so annoying!”), where they live (e.g., “Ugh, California plates...no wonder they can’t drive!”), or even their profession (e.g., “Accountants are all the same, am I right?”). These types of othering can play a role in shaping attitudes and relationships with other people.

Causes

The exact causes of othering can vary from one situation to the next. How and when people are othered often depends on how noticeable their differences are in a specific context.

If these differences are perceived as a threat, people in out-groups are more likely to experience othering. Some factors that may play a role in this phenomenon are listed below.

Evolution

A tendency to engage in othering may have evolved as a way to improve group cohesion and minimize danger from outsiders. In the ancient past, it was important for people to form close-knit groups and clearly define the boundaries between their allies and their enemies.

Helping those who were close to you—most often your family members who were similar to you and shared the same genes—was critical for survival.

Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-othering-5084425