The "Otherization" of certain individuals/groups of people

[YoungDemCA]

Ever notice the social phenomenon of people-particularly those within dominant groups or cultures in society-turning other people, especially those who can be easily ostracized by the dominant culture, into an "Other" that is defined as separate, alien, and, in some cases, not human?

Look at the way non-white racial minorities are talked about in the dominant American social context. Or look at the way immigrants, particularly those from non-WASP (and later, non-white) backgrounds, were treated at different points in American history. Furthermore, witness the assumptions made about Muslims and Arabs in the wake of 9/11 by many Americans.

But it's not just innocent people who are Otherized. Look at the way perpetrators of terrible crimes are Otherized and turned into "Subhuman filth" or "monsters" or "Crazy" by so many people (who, of course, would never, under any circumstance, even think about committing a terrible crime-right? Right?)

We are all human beings, regardless of what we look like, where we come from, what we believe, or even what we do (and that includes the most horrific crimes as well as the most noble deeds). By "Otherization", however, we can operate under the delusion that we are somehow innately better than "those people", whoever "those people" might be.

[woo me with science]

1. Remember this compilation of MSM clips about the poor

that was put together for The Daily Show?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-18-2011/world-of-class-warfare---the-poor-s-free-ride-is-over

I recommend watching the whole thing, but the last few minutes, especially, will sicken and enrage you. It is exactly what you are talking about here.

This is the social messaging of a corporate state that values profit above human lives.

[YoungDemCA]

2. Very true

The poor are consistently Otherized by the corporate media machine, and their apologists.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. yep.

[freshwest]

4. Dehumanization precedes destruction.

[Aristus]

5. And yet we walk back the "otherization" only for very specific reasons.

We (or I should say 'right-wingers') scream and rail and cry about people coming across the southern border, and say we should ship them back.

But if one of those guys coming over is a world-class left-handed reliever, we welcome him with open arms.

I hate hypocrisy. I hate it...

[pampango]

6. Extremely well said. "We are all human beings, regardless of what we look like, where we come from,

what we believe, or even what we do (and that includes the most horrific crimes as well as the most noble deeds). By "Otherization", however, we can operate under the delusion that we are somehow innately better than "those people", whoever "those people" might be. "

[HereSince1628]

7. Yes. It's a bit of a cruel pun that we refer to our nation as 'US'

Being US we are quick to notice THEM everywhere.

[loyalsister]

8. One group you didn't mention is disabled people

You did mention that mental illness is used to otherize people who commit crimes. There was an immediate attempt to further otherize Trayvon Martin by claiming he used drugs.
Disability has been used as a means of justifying inequality by adding it to another difference. Women are naturally disabled because of biological processes. "Drapetomania" caused slaves to run away. Dysaesthesia Aethiopis led to the desire to avoid work.
Then there was the argument that slavery protected people from disability.
Just a little more food for thought...

[Igel]

9. Why be so limiting?

Every group tends to do that. The stronger the group allegiance and the more embattled the group feels, the more they do it.

"Ice people" was Malcolm X's way of otherizing one group. I've heard "mud people" used for non-whites by Christian Identity loons. Convenient, the dichotomy.

Some otherize one group by calling them "Neanderthals" or "knuckle-draggers." They're evil for the heck of it, not given to "true" human emotions.

Palestinians otherize Jews. Even in Israel, where they only think themselves dominant in spirit.

You're with us or you're not only against us, you're not even the same species. "The worst of my group is always better than the best of your group." The start of all wars. The start of all civilizational collapse.