PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Othering is an unprecise term. It usually refers to various constructed notions of belonging and difference that engender marginality and structural inequality. Social-psychological approaches that conceive Ingroup and Outgroup formations as an interaction between cognitive, emotional, and conative processes are not sufficient to conceptualize Othering. An extension to a postcolonial-intersectional perspective is needed to understand the social and discursive character of Othering and the historically grown formation of Self-Other power relations.

In the context of public health, Othering as an analytical lens provides an essential contribution to understanding the link between minority status and health inequalities. Even though Othering processes exist in health care settings, little is known about how disparities concerning care and access to health services emerge as an effect of Othering. Further research on Othering is required to make the impact of difference visible shaped by Self-Otherconstructions, which directly influences the (re-)production of health inequalities.