Summary of Othering Processes

Othering Process

An outsider-observing (objective) stance that lacks participation through relationships with the observed (imposed etic-analysis), the othering process makes no room for the interpretation of the observable activities and phenomena to have their own identity and definitions. Knowledge is never fully achieved since the rationalization of ‘other’ explains the reality of the observed and is then seen as not deserving of further consideration.  Rationalizations are primarily based on differences, which are usually expanded into stereotyped tropes of classification, such as ‘primitive’ or ‘natural’ phenomena, compared to the more evolved position of the observer. With more exposure to the observed phenomena, similarities (that may not exist) are misconstrued and then imposed on the phenomena to handle their existence in the observer’s reality.  Whether through perceived similarities or differences, ‘othering’ becomes treacherous and results in unequal power and control relationships between the observed ‘other’ and the observer.

Complications arise in the analysis of the othering process since there are many forms of this discriminatory tool:

1.      Natural Othering – occurs upon primary contact with knowledge/experience of new phenomena that is not understood within the worldview of the observer. This form of othering is not discriminatory unless the original judgments formed to try to make sense of one’s relationship with the phenomena fixate into stereotypes with increased exposure with the ‘other.’ Stereotypes are then acted upon in relationship with the ‘other’ and become discrimination. Knowledge of this progression is how the othering process can be used as a tool of discrimination. This natural process then transforms into one of the following types.

2.      Identity Othering – Group cohesion and individual identity is formed by comparisons to members of outsider groups, with the outsider groups (etic identity) found as inferior to the insider group (emic identity).  

3.      Universalistic Othering - allows only generalized data to be handled. Similarities are imposed onto the ‘other.’

4.      Ideological Othering - implies that the process of knowledge is aimed toward understanding, while specific data is clumped together to create an intimidating amount of work to retrieve specific data among a generalized body of comparisons and contrasts.

5.      Imaginistic Othering - connects various specific knowledge into imaginative connections in order to achieve an interpretations that allow no logical understanding of the observed to be obtained from the knowledge, but to see the observed as being structurally similar to the observer’s beliefs.

6.      Covert Othering - when data is left out without any clue for the reader to know that the extra data is needed in order to achieve understanding.

7.      Political Othering - one of the most toxic forms of othering involves a hidden, political agenda covertly at work behind the data collection process and is presented with the intention of evoking an ‘us versus them’ perspective in the readers, thus hiding the political interests behind the academic process.

8.      Idealistic Othering - on a more subtle and seductive level, appropriates admirable qualities into stereotypes of unachievable identity. This is accomplished through romanticizing the data so that the average individual from within the culture being studied can only fall short of the expectations the observing cultures hold for them.

Bibliography

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Ulrich, Melanie. (2003). Definitions of Othering (From Various Online Sources). http://cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/rww03/othering.htm  Last updated April, 2003: Last viewed August 16, 2005.