I suppose it depends on what your definition of normal and abnormal are. Is being abnormal bad? Take genetic mutations like heterochromia for example. It’s safe to say that it isn’t normal, but does that mean it’s bad? Only 4.5% of adult Americans identity as lgbt, with over 95% of the country being heterosexual, is it really wrong to say being heterosexual is “the norm”? And then you have to take into consideration how Japanese society values uniformity. I don’t think it’s surprising that Japanese people would have a stronger sense of normalcy. As long as someone doesn’t start equating being abnormal or different as bad or wrong just simply for the fact that it’s different, I think it’s fine.
ah, see, i think it's important to not confuse something being normal with something being common. heterochromia is uncommon, but i would say that it is normal — and the same goes for being gay, bi, pan, etc. etc.
but "is being abnormal bad" is a great question, and one that i hope this series engages with! because often, discussions over what's normal or abnormal are actually about what's good or bad. and i could talk about the material ways in which the assumption that heterosexuality is more 'normal' harms lgbtq+ people, but i'm kinda tired, so i'll just link the wikipedia page on heteronormativity, since it does a good job of explaining it.
last edited at Dec 29, 2018 11:15PM