Otherkin: The online subculture of people who identify as partially or entirely nonhuman
In short: Otherkin are individuals who believe they are not entirely human, identifying instead as mythical creatures, animals, or even abstract concepts. Emerging from 1990s mailing lists, this digital-first community navigates complex questions of identity, spirituality, and psychology, often facing public misunderstanding and viral hoaxes about their presence in physical spaces.
The otherkin subculture, which encompasses identities ranging from dragons and elves to machines and weather systems, traces its roots to small groups of self-described elves in the 1970s and 1980s. The term itself was coined in July 1990 by participants of an online mailing list for mythological creatures. While some members attribute their identity to spiritual phenomena like nonhuman souls or reincarnation, others offer psychological explanations, including neurodivergence or dissociative identity disorder. The community remains primarily an online phenomenon, functioning without formal authority and focusing on support and information sharing.
Academic interest in otherkin has grown since the mid-2000s, with researchers debating whether the movement constitutes a religion. Scholars like Joseph P. Laycock suggest the community serves existential and social functions similar to religion, though he notes that defining it as such is problematic. Other researchers, such as Stephanie C. Shea, have challenged the prevailing view that otherkin identity is inherently spiritual or religious. Instead, some academics argue that these identities may be better understood through political or narrative lenses, reflecting a broader dissatisfaction with the modern world.
Public perception of otherkin is often polarized, ranging from skepticism to open hostility. This tension was highlighted in the early 2020s by a widely debunked hoax claiming that public schools were installing litter boxes for students who identified as cats. Despite such viral misinformation, the community continues to explore its own boundaries, distinguishing itself from related groups like therians—who identify specifically as nonhuman animals—and the broader 'alterhuman' umbrella. For many, the experience involves internal shifts or the sensation of phantom limbs, yet the community generally rejects claims of physical transformation.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Otherkin
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