Definition

The act of viewing or treating a person or group as different or separate from oneself, often leading to feelings of alienation or exclusion.

Example

The concept of othering can be seen in many social situations where people are judged based on their differences.

Conversation

Have you noticed how sometimes people talk about othering others in conversations?

Yeah, it's interesting how it creates a divide between groups.

Right! It's like they forget that we all have more in common than we think.

Exactly! Understanding each other is so much more important.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Othering is formed from "other" (from Old English "ōther", meaning different or distinct) and the suffix "-ing" (indicating the action or process of). The term describes the process of perceiving or treating a person or group as fundamentally different or alien from oneself.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'other' which means different, and the '-ing' shows it's an action. This helps you remember that 'othering' is the act of treating someone as different.

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