Othering

From Geography

Othering is a concept used to define someone's own 'normal' identity by distancing oneself from the Other. With Other one means someone else and is therefore classified as different. Othering is being used to understand a society where certain groups are exluded, others 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. Another important goal of Othering is making order out of our daily experiences.

In other words Othering is defining the position of oneself, by stating what it ain't. The Other is defined in a negative way. Examples of processes of Othering that become very clear in the nowadays society are based on race, gender, social class, ethnicity, etc. Whether the different groups are divided in a stereotyp or a hierarchial way, it is always meant to define, ensure or even upgrade ones own position.

Said & orientalism: A very specific form and to a certain extend an example of Othering, is described with the term orientalism. This term is mainly represented by Edward Said who wrote a influential book on this in 1978. Orientalism is, like Othering, creating stereotypes or prejudices about the Orient, the Eastern societies. Specific aspects of the Eastern culture are being imitated or depicted. These (wrong) interpretations of the East are mostly shaped by the attitudes of European imperialists in the 18th and 19th century.

References:

- Lefebvre, H. (1974). The Production of Space. Oxford: Basil Blackwell Ltd.

- Said, E.W. (1999). Culture and Imperialism. London: Vintage.

By Evelien de Beer & Richard Huttinga