dehumanizations
Treating people inhumanely
Dehumanizations are acts or processes of stripping people of their human qualities or dignity.
The term appears in discussions of oppression, genocide, propaganda, or institutional cruelty—anywhere people are treated as less than human: The report documented systematic dehumanizations of prisoners.
Each instance represents a separate denial of humanity.
Reducing humans to things
- degradationDecline in condition
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- debasementDiminishing worth or purity
- depersonalizationDetachment from one's identity
alienation · trauma · dignity · shame · cruelty · contempt · indifference · numbness
Unjust exercise of power
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
- apartheidRacial separation policy
segregation · colonialism · genocide · slavery · caste · subjugation · exploitation · persecution
Extremely cruel acts
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- enemyHostile opposing party
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- prisonersIncarcerated individuals
civilians · massacre · war crimes · brutality · internment · combatants · camps · executions
Selfish use of others
- sweatshopsExploitative manufacturing facilities
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- commodificationTransforming into sellable goods
- disposabilityMeant to be discarded
workers · migrants · conditions · wages · factories · servitude · bondage · plantation
Systematic observation of subjects
- algorithmsFinite instruction sequences
- dataFacts for analysis
- biometricsBody-based identity verification
- facial recognitionAutomated identification by face
automation · AI bias · profiling · anonymization · privacy · tracking · digital · identity
objectification
Reducing humans to things
- degradationDecline in condition
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- debasementDiminishing worth or purity
depersonalization · alienation · trauma · dignity · shame · cruelty · contempt · indifference · numbness · desensitization
oppression
Unjust exercise of power
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
apartheid · segregation · colonialism · genocide · slavery · caste · subjugation · exploitation · persecution · ethnic cleansing
atrocities
Extremely cruel acts
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- enemyHostile opposing party
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
prisoners · civilians · massacre · war crimes · brutality · internment · combatants · camps · executions · collective punishment
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- sweatshopsExploitative manufacturing facilities
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- commodificationTransforming into sellable goods
disposability · workers · migrants · conditions · wages · factories · servitude · bondage · plantation · indentured
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- algorithmsFinite instruction sequences
- dataFacts for analysis
- biometricsBody-based identity verification
facial recognition · automation · AI bias · profiling · anonymization · privacy · tracking · digital · identity · quantification
dehumanizationshumanizations
Making nonhuman things relatable
validations · honoring · affirmations · elevations · ennobling
dehumanizationsempowerments
Grants of authority
caring · protections · liberations · rehabilitations · healings
dehumanizationsinclusions
Things placed within
integrations · welcomings · acceptances · enfranchisements · incorporations