Othering is a concept that refers to the process of dehumanization and exclusion of specific social groups. In view of this, the American academic John A. Powell proposes the creation of societies based on belonging with the aim that everyone is recognized and has a place.
The presentation that is taking place on November 13th will be about these ideas. The expert in social justice and anti-racism, john a. powell, is the director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at the University of Berkeley. His work influences movements such as Black Lives Matter, providing a framework for understanding inequalities.
With inclusion and social justice as basic premises, powell seeks to promote more equitable communities and dismantle barriers that perpetuate exclusion. All of these isues will be the focus of the next Wednesday’s event, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at the Barcelona Social Hub (c/ Girona, 34).
> Registration form at icip.cat
Conversation with entities
After the initial intervention of john a. powell, representatives of entities from Barcelona will hold a conversation with him.
Experiences, knowledge and strategies to strengthen anti-racism in the city and elsewhere will be shared.
The event is part of the previous activities organized on the occasion of the celebration of the UNESCO Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination in Barcelona, on December 10 and 11.
The event will be in English with simultaneous translation service to Catalan and Spanish.
Othering and belonging: the relevance nowadays
Othering is a concept that refers to the process of creating a division between “us” and “others”, in which one social group perceives another group as different, inferior or strange. This process leads to dehumanize “others”, treat them with suspicion or even justify their exclusion or oppression.
Othering is a key concept, therefore, to understanding many forms of discrimination, oppression and social conflict, as it creates and reinforces hierarchies of power.
Belonging is based on the creation of inclusive societies where everyone feels included, recognized and respected, regardless of their social, cultural, economic differences or whatever their nationality, origins or roots.
These ideas are specially rellevant in a global context where polarization, racism and tensions between social groups have a great presence.
Powell talks extensively about how otherness contributes to the creation of enemies and the dehumanization of social groups. This analysis helps to understand the rise of hate speech and xenophobia, especially in times of social and economic crisis.