Othering

Othering is a social and psychological process in which a group is defined as fundamentally different from, and inferior to, the dominant in-group, leading to exclusion and unequal treatment. It depends on power to classify and symbolize difference, often portraying the Other as a threat or defect to justify social hierarchy. The concept has roots in philosophy and social theory and has been developed in postcolonial studies and social psychology; Edward Said's Orientalism is widely cited for showing how knowledge constructs cultural difference, while Fanon analyzed how colonial power shapes the self and the Other.

Its mechanisms include essentialization, stereotyping, dehumanization, and boundary drawing, reinforced by language, media, institutions, and everyday interactions. The Other is defined by axes such as race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, sexuality, disability, or immigration status, often within power asymmetries that justify discrimination or exclusion from resources and rights.

Othering appears in contexts such as colonialism, nationalism, immigration debates, policing, education, and popular culture. It can reinforce group solidarity for the in-group while legitimizing unequal treatment of the out-group, and it can contribute to conflict and social fragmentation.

Scholars critique the concept for potential overgeneralization or essentialism and warn against implying intentional malice in all acts of categorization. Critics advocate counter-strategies such as critical pedagogy, inclusive representation, and practices that challenge power disparities and recognize human commonality.