The Problem with “Othering” – It Dehumanizes

Blog author Dr. Patricia Arredondo

The following blog was recently published by Dr. Patricia Arredondo, (link to her website) a leading American Psychologist, educator and diversity / leadership consultant, (see Wikipedia bio) who serves with me on the board of the impactful and unique nonprofit “Gay Sons and Mothers.”

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In our consulting endeavors, we emphasize the need to be mindful of the diversity of employees, students, administrators, community groups and residents in nearby cities and towns. Simply said, there are across and within-group differences and similarities that may prove challenging if one is not curious. People differences more readily stand out often leading to assumptions, biases, and both cognitive and behavioral stereotyping.

When we learn that the new supervisor is from Mississippi, images and assumptions about how she speaks—most likely with a “southern” accent come to mind. Having stereotypes of people is usual, but acting on a stereotype or bias can be harmful, disrespectful, and plain wrong.

“Othering” relates to stereotyping and microaggressions and occurs in different social and workplace settings. For example, people in IT departments are often labeled “techies” and individuals who prefer machines to people. Professionals in DEIB offices are othered because they may be seen as only caring about “minority” issues. Othering often leads to the marginalization of an individual or of a group without a basis for the judgment held other than the perception that they are different somehow from the mainstream or norm. This ingroup/outgroup behavior affects individuals’ sense of belonging and inclusion in the workplace, school, or community. Has this happened to you?

Othering has emanated on a highly visible national scale. Recent disparaging comments about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, OH have led to bomb threats, name-calling, and other denigrating statements. When you are relegated to outgroup status because of othering, you are rendered defenseless. How do the Haitian immigrants defend themselves when mistruths are spoken? The voices of authoritarian men minimize the immigrants’ humanity and also suggest they are a group separate and apart from other persons. Denigrating others creates social divisions that may take a long time to recover from, and in this example, are also psychologically harmful.

In this period of cultural and social frenzy, we need to be mindful to ask questions first and not assume, find the middle ground, and be compassionate to those whose humanity is denigrated. As I see it, we also lose a little bit of the soul of America when we don’t speak up on behalf of the “other”——Kudos to the Springfield Mayor and the Ohio Governor for speaking up.

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Some of my past related blogs:

I also wrote about the impact of the false narrative of Haitian immigrants eating pets in “Words Can Cause Great Harm – the Case of Springfield, Ohio”

In “Another Way to View Immigration,” I address the irrational hate toward immigrants in American politics.

Words can cause great harm. The case of Springfield, Ohio.

Words, especially in the mouth of leaders and influential people, can cause great harm. People who cause great harm should be held accountable, and those who do not speak out to debunk lies and harmful language are also complicit in the harm.

Over this past week, Springfield, Ohio has been in the news, and not in a good way. Just one person starting a rumor and then supposed leaders latching onto a false narrative specifically to demonize a group of fellow human beings caused irreparable harm to a community.

How did this sad story unfold? It started by one person posting on social media that “illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating people’s pets” in Springfield, Ohio. Springfield is a city of about 60,000 people near Dayton, Ohio with around 20,000 Haitian immigrants settled legally settled through an amnesty program.

No Donald Trump, immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are not eating pets.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump and vice-presidential candidate JD Vance then propagated this unsubstantiated rumor as fact, and Trump even spoke about this during the September 10th presidential debate with Kamala Harris. He stated, “”In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in (illegal Haitian immigrants),” Trump said. “They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there. This is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”

So what was the result of Trump’s words?
• Two days in a row, city offices and schools were closed due to bomb threats
• Haitians in Springfield are facing physical threats and hateful rhetoric
• A small city is trust into national news causing disruption to daily life.

All Springfield public officials have spoken out and clarified that these pet eating allegations are false. Two of the people who took photos and started the rumor are now seeing the huge negative ramifications of their actions and expressing remorse. And yes, several years ago a woman was arrested for cooking a cat, but she was an American and it was in a different Ohio city.

Do read the newspaper story from the Columbus Dispatch as well as listen to this video that includes the words of Springfield mayor Jeffrey Mims.

My concluding key messages:
• Inflammatory words and falsehoods can cause great harm, especially when amplified by people in leadership or powerful positions.
• It is the responsibility of everyone to debunk hateful and untrue language, and do what we can to mitigate the harm and support those in the crossfire.
• Standing by and doing nothing makes us complicit in the hate and partially responsible for the damage it causes.
• And even worse, supporting those who spout hateful and untrue lies by voting for them or excusing their actions is directly contributing to the negative impacts.

Let us all unite and commit to never supporting those who harm others with their words, and that includes at the ballot box.