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Understanding Social Norms & Othering

This document discusses social norms, stereotypes, and othering. It defines social norms as shared expectations about what is considered normal behavior. Examples of social norms include gender roles, beauty standards, fashion, life goals. Stereotypes can reflect and reinforce social norms by generalizing how people should behave. Othering occurs when people who do not fit social norms are treated as not belonging and less valuable through an "us vs. them" mentality. While othering can strengthen social bonds, it can also psychologically harm those who are othered by denying them human dignity and respect.

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88 views32 pages

Understanding Social Norms & Othering

This document discusses social norms, stereotypes, and othering. It defines social norms as shared expectations about what is considered normal behavior. Examples of social norms include gender roles, beauty standards, fashion, life goals. Stereotypes can reflect and reinforce social norms by generalizing how people should behave. Othering occurs when people who do not fit social norms are treated as not belonging and less valuable through an "us vs. them" mentality. While othering can strengthen social bonds, it can also psychologically harm those who are othered by denying them human dignity and respect.

Uploaded by

Phantomscar181
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Social Norms and Othering

Learning Goals and Expectations


I will know:
• What social norms are
• The relationship between social norms and stereotypes
• What “othering” is

I will be able to:


• Analyze the effects of stereotypes and othering on people
• Analyze the impacts of stereotypes in literature and media on people
1. What are social norms?

• “Norm” comes from “normal”


• A social norm then, is an idea or expectation about what it means for
something to be normal or ideal
2. What are some examples of social norms?
• Gender characteristics and roles
2. What are some examples of social norms?
• Gender roles
• Beauty standards
2. What are some examples of social norms?
• Gender roles
• Beauty standards
• Fashion and dress
2. What are some examples of social norms?
• Gender roles
• Beauty standards
• Fashion and dress
• Life goals and milestones
2. What are some examples of social norms?
• Gender roles
• Beauty standards
• Fashion and dress
• Life goals and milestones
• Rules of etiquette
• [Link]
2. What are some examples of social norms?
• Gender roles
• Beauty standards
• Fashion and dress
• Life goals and milestones
• Rules of etiquette
• Greetings
3. Where do social norms come from?

• They are developed over time by the community based on their


shared values and goals
• Everyone acting similarly creates a sense of comfort and belonging
• They create order and predictability for social interactions

• Sometimes they are created by celebrities or people with social


influence
Thinking Time

• How might stereotypes and social norms be related?


4. How are stereotypes and social norms
related?
• Stereotypes are generalizations and simplifications
• They can reflect the norms, themselves, and how people are expected to
behave
• They can reflect things that don’t fit the norms and be used to draw attention
to those behaviors to make fun of them
5. What happens when society encounters something that doesn’t fit the
norm?

• Things that are unfamiliar or unexpected can be uncomfortable

• Not fitting the norm can be seen as:


• A challenge to social structure
• Rebellious
• Dangerous
• Not belonging
4. What happens when society encounters something that doesn’t fit the
norm?

• Things that are unfamiliar or unexpected can be uncomfortable

• Not fitting the norm can be seen as:


• A challenge to social structure
• Rebellious
• Dangerous
• Not belonging

• Societies will usually respond to something outside the norm by


“othering”
6. What is othering?
• Othering is when we treat someone or something that does fit the
norm as not belonging. Things are seen through an “Us vs. Them”
lens.
• We belong, and they don’t

• The “them/they” is treated with hostility


• Not valuable
• Without dignity
• Less human
Thinking Time

• How can stereotypes be used to “other” people?


6. What is othering?
• Othering can help to reinforce social norms and maintain strong
community bonds

• Othering can cause very real emotional, psychological, and even


physical harm to people though.
Thinking Time

• What does it really mean to treat someone as less than human; what will it
do to a person to tell them they don’t deserve respect, they don’t deserve
human dignity, that they aren’t valuable, etc.?

• How much of a problem are stereotypes and generalized ways of thinking


then?

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