What is it to be normal?

I feel like the title of my blog post this week is a very open-ended Q+A. Our society has been asking this question for generations and our answers to it always very. Normalcy is very hard to define (even right now I can't think about a definition in my head for this term). People say they are "normal" but what is normal can be seen as different to anyone in our society. A certain clip comes to my mind when I think of normal/normalcy. Its a clip from one of my fave shows, Spongebob! Spongebob watches a video from Squidward about a "normal" life and Spongebob changes his lifestyle to be more "normal."

Our society judges people to fit these "norms" but its tough to say who is the "normal" one in society and who should be looked upon as a "leader of normalcy." I believe our society emphasizes too much on who is different and who is NOT normal. We need to cut our ties to this whole idea of "normalcy" and go back to worry about our own lives, not other's.

Below is a video about how to determine if you are "normal." I found it funny that people would actually watch this to see if they are normal. Well everyone is normal in their own way!!

~Chad S.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L6yPKo6r54
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb5F58OFTis

Education and Normality

The key to shifting the view of society when it comes to minority groups that we've discussed this semester (disabled, intersex, etc) is in education. Education is what shapes the ideology of society. The way in which topics are approached and ignored when educating the youth shape the way they view these topics. If something like intersex is thought to be taboo, then students will assume that something is wrong with it, which is why its not mentioned. If young people are taught that it is a natural occurrence at birth, they will be less likely to view it as negative. When it is approached as some sort of birth defect that must be corrected by surgery, they will look at intersex individuals as strange. The fact that these surgeries exist and are suggested to parents make it seem as if there is some kind of medical condition that needs correcting. Therefore, if we wish to eliminate prejudice and labeling people as 'abnormal' (and we should want this) we must stop being afraid to expose children to these facts.

The Issue With Holding Off On Education

Within the last few minutes of class we talked about what would be best for educating children about interesexual people. A few mentioned that it wouldn't be wise to teach in middle school because it would be a joke to a lot of the kids. Where I do somewhat agree with that I feel like holding off and exposing them at a a later time makes the issue even more alien. The earlier the better I see fit. If parents brought there children up with knowing about the diversity of people then I feel like having to learn about intersex in 9th grade Health class wont make it seem so weird. I feel like if we keep making it an issue then it will continue to be an issue. It is sort of like the topic of sex with children. Many believe it it best to hold off as long as you can before you talk to them about it but I think the children who get exposed to it at a early age don't encounter many questions or problems when they get older. Pushing the education back to say high school or even college means that less and less people will be able to hear it.  I wouldn't want the first time a person learns of intersex is on the birthing table at the hospital.

A Note on Intersex

Think about all the "Congrats it's a girl/boy" cards that will be sent this year. Think of all of the bathroom plates depicting a woman as someone in a dress and a man as someone who does not. Think of the most basic thing that defines our society, sex: male and female. Despite what we have learned about biology and intersex, most of the Western world continues to exist as two, man and woman. Perhaps it derives from our Christian background, that God created man, and when man became lonely He gave to man a female companion.

Regardless of where it began or why, I suppose my question is how do we change it? As a society, how would we be able to make things gender neutral? Unfortunately we love in a society governed by money. Historically, there are numerous examples of ignorance, oppression, and the will of the few in power in our country. Gender neutrality is perhaps a more recent conversation in our history. I would bet many politicians are not even fully aware of it. For there to be action there needs to be dialogue.

While have been conditioned to recognize humans as male or female, perhaps it is time to understand what it means to be "man" or "women" and come accept any other definitions out there.

Outside reactions to intersex

I had a friend of mine who went to Fredonia, who was intersex. We will call her Sammy to protect her name. Sammy was a man, or had masculine mannerisms,  when she first met her. But then she decided to try the female side, by trying new hormones and getting surgery, and she is happy with her body. Sammy decided to get the surgery so that she would have the female parts, instead of the male parts (she had ambiguous genitalia).

I was a little freaked out at first when she told me all of this before she had the surgery. But if I put that all aside, I really didn't care about that. I am still friends with Sammy, and I've seen many of her friends leave her because she started to become a woman, because apparently that started to scare people. I know that there are some people that change sexes, intersex or not, and some people get freaked out by it, and don't want to be with that person. I feel that any person, of any sex, should be able to live their lives, and not be shunned by people. It's sad to see that even society still is scared of gay couples and intersex beings. Times are changing, and some people need to get over those ideas.

In Response to "Being Comfortable With Yourself"

I don’t think that it is right for doctors to fully influence parents on making a decision on whether or not to have their child under go surgery for ambiguous genitalia. I think the doctors should be trained to inform parents about all of their options and about the pros and cons of each option. The final decision should be left to the parents, with no insight or opinion from the doctor. I think opinions and input from doctors on which option may be better or worse forces parents to make decisions that may potentially affect their children in a negative way in the future. I also think it should be an option, although not seen as a good idea because of the apparent struggle of the child, to perform no surgery until the child can make a reasonable decision for themselves. I think they should have the right to choose what they want with their lives, as when every person reaches a certain age they are granted their own decision making for themselves. Although it is seen as dangerous, or confusing for a child as they grow up, I don’t think surgery should be such a forced thing, I think it should be something postponed until the child grows older and can decide what they want for themselves. As for the surgery being dangerous or not as successful at an older age, sex changes are performed quite often and the technology and access to plastic surgeons today makes surgery at a later age a pretty good and successful option. As for the “horrors” or confusion the child may face as they grow up, I think it’s time for society to start accepting things as they are, we will never make progress if we don’t start somewhere. 

Intersexuality

On the discussion about intersexuality, I think young teens should be educated on the matter and not blinded by reality. Even though it may be uncomfortable for kids at that age, they may be introduced to an intersexed person at any point in their life. Even though a small percentage of the population develops or is born with ambiguous genitalia, it is better to be knowledgable about the different possibilities.  I personally have never heard the term ‘intersexuality’ specifically until this class. I have heard stories on T.V. about the possibility that individuals may not have a defined gender, based on their genitalia, but never really thought about it in regards to society and medicalization.  I think intersex should be accepted more openly in today’s society. We have been continuing to evolve and this is just a minor difference that does not necessarily hinder the person from normal sexual and reproductive functions. If intersex individuals feel comfortable  in their skin and  feel ‘normal’ then who is to say they are not?  I think that if children are taught the meaning behind intersexuality, then society can eventually grow and become more accepting and understanding.

 

-emothersell