The concept of “othering” is useful as it helps to remind us that the devaluing of those “not like us” is a human trait. While you may want to focus on a particular case, some exploration of this shared capacity is important. The roles of perpetrator and victim are flexible, and it is important to root this pedagogy in a critique of simple ethical binaries of guilt and innocence. Racism is not solely perpetrated by whites or even some whites, nor is patriarchy simply sustained by the actions of men or even some men. The complexities of human relationships, and our very human flaws need to be acknowledged.  However, at the same time, this must be carefully managed as it is essential to not leave students believing that any negative stereotypes they may hold are fine as “most people have them” or that there is nothing that can be done about deeply-rooted forms of discrimination and injustice. 

The combination of critical thinking, media literacy and creative expression is an important part of this pedagogy. There is no formula to indicate how much or how little of each competency to use, as that will depend on the course. Consider building on these competencies as regularly as possible for increased engagement and understanding. Submit any project ideas or classroom experiences below, we would love to hear from you!