Table 1.

Examples of Othering descriptions in public health literature.

Description of Othering	Remarks on the use of Othering
Othering is treated “as a function of structural factors, including institutional racism. As such, ‘‘othering’’ contributes to shaping individuals' ascribed racial/ethnic status and their access (or lack thereof) to resources associated with such a status. These, in turn, influence proximate pathways (i.e., stress, medical care, health practices, psychosocial risk factors and resources, and environmental risk factors) to health outcomes. The model also proposes that ‘‘othering’’ and discrimination are experienced by individuals interacting with other people and institutions, and thus it might also be considered a psychosocial stressor that impacts health.” (Viruell-Fuentes, 2007, p. 1532, bold type added for emphasis)	-Othering is considered as a function of structural factors and is related to health as a psychosocial stressor
“[…] othering discourses took three forms: essentializing explanations, culturalist explanations, and racializing explanations. The alienating and marginalizing effects of these practices were evident in South Asian women's discussions of their health care experiences.” (Johnson et al., 2004, p. 260, bold type added for emphasis)	-Othering takes place in discourses and is divided into essentializing, culturalizing and racializing features -Othering is experienced in encounters between patients and physicians -Othering may be manifested in structural features of access to and delivery of health services
“Othering is based on negative preconceptions where the other person or group is objectified. Attitudes such as stigmatisation, marginalisation and alienation may be difficult to change, but positive personal experiences may alter one's preconceived negative ideas and create understanding and trust. […] Healthcare providers, like other people, may not recognise signs of prejudice in their own behaviour, a behaviour that is a form of othering.” (Alpers, 2018, p. 318, bold type added for emphasis)	-Othering is understood as prejudiced behavior -Othering affects encounters between health care providers and patients
“‘Othering’ defines and secures one's own identity by distancing and stigmatising an (other). Its purpose is to reinforce notions of our own ‘normality’, and to set up the difference of others as a point of deviance. The person or group being ‘othered’ experiences this as a process of marginalisation, disempowerment and social exclusion. This effectively creates a separation between ‘us’ and ‘them’.“ (Grove & Zwi, 2006, p. 1933, bold type added for emphasis)	-Othering is understood as an identity formation process which emerges in discourses and creates identity through the construction of Others -Othering is manifested in encounters between patients and physicians -Othering is manifested in structural features of access to and delivery of health services
“Exclusionary and Inclusionary. These terms were chosen based on my interpretation of the conceptualizations of Othering presented in the literature and my analysis of the Latina faculty participants' perspectives. […] Although both processes exist within the context of power and power relationships, what I articulate as Exclusionary Othering often uses the power within relationships for domination and subordination. The consequences for persons who experience this form of Othering are often alienation, marginalization, decreased opportunities, internalized oppression, and exclusion. When Exclusionary Othering occurs within the context of health care delivery, potential negative consequences exist for human development, maintenance of self-esteem, and health promotion and restoration. In contrast, I conceptualize Inclusionary Othering as a process that attempts to utilize power within relationships for transformation and coalition building. The potential consequences for persons experiencing this form of Othering are consciousness raising, sense of community, shared power, and inclusion.” (Canales, 2000, pp. 19–20, bold type added for emphasis)	-Othering is divided in two ways: Exclusionary and Inclusionary Othering -Exclusionary Othering operates through stereotyping and can have exclusionary effects on health -Inclusionary Othering operates through role-taking and can have inclusionary effects on health -Othering is located in interactional processes

Source: Own table