Othering

From Geography

Othering is a concept used to define someone's own 'normal' identity by distancing oneself from the other. This other is here classified as different. This otherness is possible in two different ways. The first is when people try to form relationships, the other party is also classified as an other. In this case this process is not to stigmatize or condem. The more negative case where othering is being used is to understand a society where certain groups are exluded, other who do not fit into their society. Therefore it's not only about defining oneself, but also the phenomena and units someone knows. In the case of a national identity, the result of othering can be simply segregation.

The father of othering is Edward Said, who claims that othering is a concept most common in the Western world.

By Evelien de Beer & Richard Huttinga