“Othering” is what we call the often-invisible mechanism communities use to exclude other people from joining the community, drawing the line that differentiates between “us” and “them.” When we turn a group of people into the “other,” we are “othering” them. Usually this is done in subtly or overtly dehumanizing ways that presents individuals as “less than”—less human, less worthy of respect, less deserving of political rights, social access, and economic opportunities—than the dominant group. Any reason can be used as a basis for othering, from gender or religious affiliation to which sports team someone roots for. Othering can reinforce bonds and foster a sense of belonging within the dominant community, but it is incredibly harmful to those who are excluded, builds up fear of exclusion and rejection within the community, and is the underpinning of all systemic injustices within a society.
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