anotherother

Anotherother is a neologism used in theoretical discussions of identity, othering, and discourse to describe a nested or second-order sense of the term "other". In this framework, the first "other" designates a person or group that is perceived as different. The "anotherother" arises when that perception is itself interpreted through an additional layer of social meaning, such as how an observer's own position shapes their classification of the other. The coinage emphasizes reflexivity in social categorization and marks a move from straightforward othering to layered perception.

Origin and usage: The term has appeared in scholarly essays and some chapters of introductory lectures on identity studies since the early 2000s, mainly in English-language theoretical discourse. It is not widely standardized and is used mainly as a conceptual helper rather than as a fixed term with a settled definition.

Applications: In literary analysis, anotherother can describe how a character is defined by how others view someone who is themselves defined by others. In discourse analysis, it helps illustrate how media framing can produce a second-order othering that reinforces stereotypes.

Critics argue that anotherother risks obscurity and may complicate arguments without adding clarity, urging careful use and clear examples.

See also: other, othering, reflexivity, nested identities.