Othering:

The term “othering” often has negative connotations. It is commonly used as a means of demeaning people who are not like ourselves, creating an “Us vs. Them” environment or mentality.

Yet personally, in my life, Othering is a way of learning about cultures, about ways of life that differ from my own. Othering is a medium through which I can begin to understand how “other” people act & how they interact with the world. For myself othering is a way to learn more fully and comprehensively about human nature, and to appreciate the diversity of humankind. All human beings are equitable. All cultures have strengths & weaknesses. If we fail to see and appreciate the differences between us, then we fail to learn. When we fail to learn we fail to grow as human beings, and as a culture. We stagnate… and stagnation never leads to anything good.

These images are about our shared humanity.

So please look, and learn, and grow as a human being.

———-

“You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help them find it within themself.” (Aristotle)