This post is based on the following reading:
http://www.otheringandbelonging.org/the-probelm-of-othering/
In my opinion, the idea of othering and belonging revolves around stereotyping a specific group. Lets take the example of terrorism. ISIS, the terrorist organization, is know as an Islamic terrorist group. In today’s dramatic issues and events, discrimination is largely influenced by religion.
When watching a news report about a terrorist attack, one of the media’s main goals is to exaggerate about the issue. The overwhelming language used to detest the people responsible for their wrongdoings, unconsciously influences the mindset of the people. I am not saying that their actions are humane but does not have to be linked directly to their religion. Correct that they are doing this ‘in the name of God’, but when actually understanding what Islam is actually aiming to allocate, what they are doing is the complete opposite of what their religion is telling them to do.
In the case of foreigners they might try to alienate Muslims due to these dire organizations. I have seen examples of religious discrimination in America during the frightful events of 9/11, which was caused due to the radical actions of Osama Bin Laden. After these tragic events, Americans who were in control of any type of employment, security or any other type of communication with national or international individuals treated Muslims with every form of abuse. Humans subconsciously categorize every entity, otherwise we would have “died long ago”.
Being associated with a specific social or religious party may be tiring when belonging a particular belief. Rarely when a Muslim is verbally or physically abused after a distinctive terrorist attack has occurred finds himself interested in the aggressive culture he is currently surrounded by when categorized as a foreigner. When Muslim immigrants find themselves getting rejected by a dominant culture or party and find that they are with no jobs, security or rights (in some cases homeless) in the foreign country, with no doubt they will hate the culture or country they are in. They become scarred by their inhumane actions.
All in all, from my point of view othering and belonging are psychological terms. Categorizing individuals as belonging to a party of the ‘others’ is an inhumane way of thinking. People should be categorized based on their actions and beliefs not to what party or social group they belong to.
Digital Literacies 