The concept of “Othering” in colonial anthropology refers to the process by which colonial powers and their representatives, such as anthropologists, define and categorize non-Western societies as fundamentally different, inferior, or exotic in comparison to the colonizer’s own culture. This practice often involves portraying colonized people as the “Other” – a group that is seen as outside the norms, values, and qualities that define the colonizer’s identity.
In colonial anthropology, this “Othering” served to justify the superiority and dominance of Western culture and civilization, often framing indigenous or non-Western societies as primitive, backward, or in need of civilizing. Anthropologists, during the colonial era, would often study these societies from a position of power, reinforcing stereotypes that painted the colonized as primitive or irrational. This dynamic not only served to justify colonial rule but also maintained the idea that non-Western societies were static and in need of Western intervention.
The concept of “Othering” has been critically examined by postcolonial theorists and anthropologists, who argue that it reinforced colonial ideologies and prevented a deeper understanding of the diverse and complex cultures of the colonized people.