Normal--it's such an over used word. Yet, what is normal? Who defines it? Can there be a norm? In the "Constructing Normalcy" and "Rejected Body" articles, the text displays the battle of norms. It was difficult for me to read about intelligent people, such as Marx and Quetlet struggling to define normal. Their usage of math and science was convincing at times, because these two categories are perceived as accurate and objective. However, it was obvious that their reasoning was inappropriate. I was shocked to learn about the category of disabled people. Handicap and mentally ill people are not dumb or uneducated people just because of their disabilities. Even though they may not be able to function in society in common ways, they are people who can contribute to society in unique ways.
I think it is interesting how the definition of normal can change over time. I think this common trait is apparent in eastern societies. Many countries, such as India or Korea are heavily influenced by the west's culture. For example, when my parents were growing up in India the normal Indian woman was traditional, not too educated, and highly conservative. Now, women are obtaining proper education, respectable jobs, and are displaying a sense of "american" culture in their lives. When I was in India last year, I remember seeing college students in short skirts and halter tops, which now is apparently normal in the bigger cities of India. I was completely shocked to see this type of culture being accepted in the Indian society. It just proves that normal cannot be defined or established. Everyone is different and it is impossible to label people into a category.
Thus, there is no normal.
By the way, I looked up normal on Webster and this is one of the definitions. I found it quite interesting.
Normal: free from mental disorder
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Wow, I am surprised that a respected publishing company that influences language and its perception would revert to such an oversimplified and misleading definition. I wonder what edition that you definition.
Your blog mentions something important about the classification of norm; it is plastic and continuously changing. In class we established that normal and the Other (a group which includes the disabled, mentally ill, etc) function in opposition to each other. Norm seems to include what at times are unrealistic ideals. The Other includes those things which people fear happening to them or those around them. Since normalcy is always changing so too is the classification of the Other. I think it would be interesting to compare the relationship of a given time or society’s classification of normal and Other.
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