The Othering Process

The process of othering that takes place during and after an interpersonal interaction, but Mir and Lurie made an interesting point of dispelling that notion. Both left me with the impression that the process begins long before that. Signifiers such as the hijab lead onlookers to believe that the wearers of the item have a vastly different outlook on the world around them. In regards to one of Lurie’s statements, the vocabulary a wearer of a hijab would use is assumed to be the opposite of a blonde protestant. Furthermore, Lurie stated that human speech does not have a single language, but Mir’s lecture gave the impression that if Americans could operate by using a single language we definitely would. The diversity of language as it relates to clothing creates personal variations that are assessed then classified based on the societal norms of a singular language. But why? Why is there such a strong desire to fit people into groups that are easily digestible? What makes the task of developing true understanding of a different culture’s complexities that we avoid often avoid even trying? I truly don’t think this desire is fueled by malice, but an attempt to avoid the discomfort that overcomes a person when they come in contact with something they have never had to comprehend. When Mir described the experience Fatima, one of her subjects of observation, had when she was asked to explain why she does not drink alcohol or has never had a boyfriend, Fatima avoided being othered by giving an answer that does not elude to any cultural identifiers. Fatima’s discomfort was a product of the reactions she was sure her peers would have if they knew the real answer. If am not mistaken Fatima was also one of Mir’s subjects that did not wear the hijab. Even though Lurie suggests that clothes act as a means to using another language that does not necessarily mean that bystanders will want to speak it with you.