Ostracizing ( /ˈɒstrəsaɪzɪŋ/) is a verb that describes the act of intentionally excluding or rejecting someone from a group or society. The word is spelled with an "o" at the beginning and not an "a", despite the pronunciation of the word beginning with an "ah" sound. This is due to the word's origin from ancient Athens where politicians would write down the names of people they wanted exiled on pieces of broken pottery called ostraka. Thus, the word ostracizing comes from the ostrakon - a form of ancient Greek pottery rather than from ostriches.
The term "ostracizing" refers to the act of deliberately excluding or isolating someone from a group or society, typically based on their behavior, beliefs, or characteristics. It involves the systematic social rejection and alienation of an individual, driven by a collective decision or consensus within the community. This practice often aims to stigmatize and marginalize the targeted person, creating a sense of exclusion and preventing their full participation in social interactions and activities.
Ostracizing can be motivated by various reasons, such as differences in political or religious ideologies, personal conflicts, or social norms and prejudices. It can take different forms, including verbal, psychological, or physical hostility, discrimination, bullying, or shunning. By excluding someone from the social fabric, ostracizing exerts powerful social control and can impose severe emotional and psychological consequences on the victim, as it instills feelings of loneliness, depression, and low self-esteem.
The process of ostracizing usually involves the collective agreement or approval of the majority, with the aim of maintaining or reinforcing established norms and power dynamics within the group. It involves the deliberate shunning or ignoring of the individual, denying them social support, opportunities for friendship or collaboration, and even basic human rights. Ostracizing, while potentially detrimental and unfair to the targeted person, may serve as a means for the group to establish boundaries, enforce conformity, or reinforce shared values and beliefs.
The word "ostracizing" comes from the noun "ostracism", which in turn is derived from the Ancient Greek word "ostrakismos". The term stems from "ostrakon", meaning "potsherd" or "shell". In ancient Athens, "ostrakismos" referred to a democratic procedure used to banish a citizen from the city-state for ten years. Each citizen would write the name of the person they wanted to exile on a piece of pottery (ostrakon), and if at least 6,000 votes were cast against that individual, they would be ostracized. Over time, the verb "ostracize" evolved to describe the act of excluding or shunning someone from a social group or society.