Author notes

Embrace the Strange

pinkbatmax

on May 20, 2010

And from the other side of the aisle, Irma's response to the idea of 'normality'.

I have to admit sympathy for her point of view. There's tyranny in the expectation to act like everyone else. Even were I traditionally gendered, I would be something of an odd duck. "Marching to the beat of a different drummer" is a phrase often used for me. In grade school, of course, this was understood as "NOT NORMAL!!!!!"

I like to replace the word 'normal' with 'typical' in order to negate the judgement inherent in that word. Really, from my point of view, it all comes down to a numbers game; simple statistics. A majority of people may behave in such and such a way, a minority do not, but one ought not be privliged over the other.

On the other hand, Sarah's happiness is completely understandable, because even with all of the above said…. she is happy because she has avoided the all too common stigmatization that makes trans lives so burdensome. For her, this is a blessing. For Irma, who has never faced the gender stigmatization that Sarah does, 'normalcy' is a box to be trapped in. I relate to the both of them.

What about you? What do you think of 'normality'?