Ostracisms

Ostracisms refer to instances of deliberate exclusion or shunning of an individual or group from a society or community. This can involve formal banishment, social isolation, or the withholding of opportunities. The purpose can vary, ranging from punishment for transgressions to the enforcement of social norms or the suppression of dissent. Ostracism inflicts significant psychological harm, leading to feelings of rejection, loneliness, and devaluation. Historically, ostracism has been a tool of social control, political maneuvering, and the enforcement of moral codes across various cultures and time periods. It serves as a powerful, and often devastating, form of social sanction.

Ostracisms meaning with examples

• Following his controversial political statements, the senator faced a series of ostracisms, including being excluded from important committee meetings and public events. His colleagues distanced themselves, leaving him isolated and unable to effectively participate in policy debates. He experienced the pain of watching the people that he worked with ignore him as they made decisions that he needed to know. The ostracisms were intended to punish his actions, but he did not care, he would make this right.
• The artist, known for his radical views, suffered multiple ostracisms from the art world, with galleries refusing to showcase his work and critics dismissing his efforts. He struggled to find a following and lost his way because of it. Despite the ostracisms, he maintained his creative vision, finding solace in his work. Eventually, his art was accepted by society, but it took much time to find his place again in his community.