Us vs. Them: the Importance and Benefits of Exposure to 'the Other' in Contemporary Society

Abstract

Culture connects us, guides us — creates us. It gives us a sense of belonging by creating different sets of characteristics from which we can forge communities. By creating more and more categories, however, we not only limit ourselves but unconsciously participate in othering. The notion of the other plays a major role in the discrimination of certain groups of people. It is also often used in the politics of fear as a response to immigration. To challenge this mindset and to fight the status quo, mass media is key; by providing the exposure marginalized people need, we can build bridges between us and them. Understanding the process of othering and the fluidity of the categories we have created without homogenizing the experience of the individual is crucial in this globalized world.