ipl-logo

Abnormality Definition Essay

506 Words3 Pages

We all grow up with certain stereotypes about what makes us “normal”. These stereotypes, of course, depend on our particular cultures, but they do exist. From the average office worker working a 9 to 5 job in Chicago, or the Jewish banker in New York, or even the call center worker in Mumbai, India. However, as we grow as individuals, we suddenly are faced with the greatest paradox of all. Even though we are taught the standards of normality and its importance as children, people are not valued or celebrated for being “normal”, they are valued for being “abnormal”. Children grow up learning about what “normal” means, and what it means in their culture. The crowd mentality shuns outcasts and anyone who strays from the social norms and rewards those who stick to it. However, as children grow …show more content…

With the teeming threat of college admissions, they learn that, regardless of what they grew up thinking, they are not valued for their “normality”, but for their “abnormality” or deviation from the norm. I, of course, was no exception to this. I remember that the abruptness of this revelation left me confused and stunned. Students rushed to gain an edge on their peers, some studied diligently, while others took up leadership roles or volunteering positions just to create a unique resume to submit to colleges who actively seek “abnormal” students. What was once one cohesive community now began to diversify, and soon the same students who were seen as “normal” began to have different interests and values. The views of “normality” are also challenged in college as well. In such a large institution, diversity is a fact of life. Norms from all sorts of different cultures clash together and individuals begin to form groups around their common interests. There are clubs for different academics, different sports, different talents, but students quickly realize that there are no communities formed for those who are simply

Show More
Related

  • Conventional Wisdom In Outcast United By Warren St. John

    1164 Words  | 5 Pages

    Conventional wisdom has it that society has been taught to be accepting and kind to the people around them, kindness can vary among social groups due to different backgrounds, ethnicity, and learned prejudices. It can be trialing for someone experiencing hyper-diversity to be affable and work towards social justice for minority groups, while doing this, they in turn, express a sense of integrity. All throughout the book Outcast United written by Warren St. John, the author writes about and capitalises a few of Bethel College values such as diversity, community, and service. As Outcasts United began to unfold, one can noted many values that endorse those of Bethel College, St. John amplifies certain ones. The most prevalent value is diversity,

    Read More

  • Summary Of The End Of Women's College By Brian Burton

    971 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mount Holyoke college says, “we continue to embolden women to break boundaries, shake off limits, and take lead.” implying that women’s attendance at Mount Holyoke College will gain them better opportunities that will help women grow mentally and financially. Mount Holyoke decided to be a women’s university “by choice” Mount Holyoke says, “[w]e attract world-class faculty and students because we are different” (1). In this type of environment women tend to “challenge themselves academically, Immerse themselves in campus life, and seek out leadership roles” (2), In the future these three key points pay off. According to Mount Holyoke, women who attend their college “stand up, stand out, and stand together” (2).

    Read More

  • Malcolm Gladwell's David And Goliath

    670 Words  | 3 Pages

    We must look like this or act like this in order to be normal. But what really is the definition of being a normal person? Well there isn’t any exact definition. We create a list of aspects

    Read More

  • Essay On Outliers

    1175 Words  | 5 Pages

    We have learned ever since we were introduced to statistics that outliers don’t just fit in. In Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, these people gain a new definition: they do fit in. So much, in fact, that people shape their own lives to become an outlier. We idolize them and crave to be as successful as them, while they are really just the same as each one of us. What makes them true outliers is a combination of fate, fortune, and fervor.

    Read More

  • Society And Identity In Cathy Davidson's 'Project Classroom Makeover'

    1215 Words  | 5 Pages

    101.AQ – Assignment 3 Draft – Hagar Elshentenawy Society and Identity I In Cathy Davidson’s essay “Project Classroom Makeover”, Davidson talks about how educational institutions can limit some people 's identity by standardizing and favoring certain subjects that society values. In Karen Ho’s essay “Biographies of hegemony”, Ho discusses how Wall Street affected recruitment in Ivy leagues and how they were able to influence students into believing that Wall Street is the only viable option. In Susan Faludi’s essay “The Naked Citadel” , Faludi describes The Citadel 's environment and how it affects the people that attend it. It is evident Institutions like the ones mentioned above can shape, or in the least influence, their attendees ' identities by imposing the surrounding society 's belief and influence onto them.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Diversity At Rutgers University

    433 Words  | 2 Pages

    This students’ tale is one that embodies what diversity at Rutgers means, his story is something so unique that I believe it can only be found here. The diversity of Rutgers University, has made my experience at Rutgers exciting, prompting me to interact with people that I previously may have been too shy to interact with. The diversity of the campus, students, and staff make Rutgers a comfortable place to live as there will always be at least one person that matches your interest here, whether it is playing Pokemon Go, Kendama, or even just Underwater Basket Weaving. The diversity of Rutgers University has helped me find not only people that match my competitive nature but compliment it with their own fiery natures, which has made Rutgers a place that I can honestly say I love and

    Read More

  • David Wallace Commencement Speech Analysis

    792 Words  | 4 Pages

    In today’s world, we are subconsciously encouraged to be normal. Normally, unique ideas are often shamed before they can come to life. In David Wallace’s commencement speech to Kenyon University's graduating master students, he urged students to go against the norm and think for themselves. His method of encouragement was a bit unusual but, consequently, the students will take what he asserted into account due to his unusual, but persuasive style. Throughout this speech, Wallace deviates from one example to the next, but he stayed consistent in encouraging students to think for themselves instead of being like a rat in a machine to get cheese.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Normality In The Novel 'Geeak Love'

    854 Words  | 4 Pages

    What does it mean to be normal? To look and act like everyone else? To be conformed to societies expectations? Or, is it to be confident and self-assured that even if people think differently about the way someone looks that that is irrelevant because what other people think does not matter. In the novel, Geek Love, written by Katherine Dunn, normality, what it means to be “normal”, or even if normal exists is question and a theme that is brought up throughout the whole book.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Naked Citadel By Susan Faludi

    1975 Words  | 8 Pages

    Sacrificing their individuality and creativity is just a step in the right direction towards their version of success. Even though sacricinfing one’s true self is great, they are willing to do so if it brings them profit in their own lives. Ultimately, the selfish need for success outweighs the corruption and negativity it brings to the overall system, and in that respect, restricts itself from progressing towards change. Because a generic system like a college can not cater to every individual, there are always concrete flaws, one of which is the pressure to confrom.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Code Of The Streets By Elijah Anderson

    932 Words  | 4 Pages

    The most influential agent of socialization I the family. In this chapter this is shown, generally the kids in “street” families had the tendency to act similar to their parents. “The kind of home he comes from influences but does not determine the way he will ultimately turnout,” (105). The kids would be quick to hit someone else if they did not get their way, they would yell and argue in very unorderly fashions, just like they had seen their parents do or other adults they had been surrounded by. Aside from family peers are also a strong agent of socialization, especially in a system like this in which children are raised through accomplishment of natural growth, in which they are surrounded by other children in all their free time and often times children not in their age group.

    Read More

  • Individualism In The 1970's

    610 Words  | 3 Pages

    We’ve all heard it: the strong academic record, proficient in three sports, president of a few clubs, vibrant social life, and still getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night. The idealistic belief of a student, a goal to continuously strive towards. As students in a stressful, sometimes competitive atmosphere, we evaluate ourselves often and notice our flaws, but often miss our strengths. The idea of an idyllic description of the proper student forces down the general individualism often treasured in a learning environment. Rather than pushing down a student’s personal identity, it is necessary to express yourself and be your true self in public.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Why America Is Self-Segregating By Danah Boyd

    1006 Words  | 5 Pages

    College: An Unsuccessful Diversification Project In her article, “Why America is Self-Segregating,” Danah Boyd emphasizes the importance of diversity in our social connections and explains, as members of a nation, we are segregating ourselves. Through culture, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic background, fragmentation is occurring daily. Boyd realizes that diversity is hard, but believes it is a crucial part of a successful democracy. Boyd explains that while the original goal of social media may have been to connect people from different cultures and nations, its effects have been working in the opposite direction.

    Read More

  • Satire In Harrison Bergeron

    589 Words  | 3 Pages

    In society today, normalcy is average; some are above, and some are below. In this short story, that is removed.

    Read More

  • Examples Of The Medicalization Of Deviance

    370 Words  | 2 Pages

    Module 6: •Define deviance and its relationship to the social context -deviance is a violation of a social norm but not necessarily a violation of our values; people do tend to be put off by deviant behavior, even if it’s relatively harmless; whether or not something is perceived to be deviant depends on the social context in which it occurs •Understand the differences between how conflict theory and functionalism explain deviance -functionalism of deviance -> to affirm cultural values and norms, to clarify moral boundaries, to bring people together, and to encourage social change -according to conflict theory, the most powerful group in society has the power to define what is considered normal and what is considered deviant; each culture has a fair amount of discretion over how it defines what is normal and what is not, however, not all members of a given culture have equal freedom to contribute to such understanding

    Read More

  • The Myth Of The Normal Curve By Dudley-Marling And The Short Bus

    686 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the book, Mooney discusses that the idea of normalcy is created from statistics, which can be seen in the hierarchies created in school settings. Mooney writes, “Normalcy, though, is first and foremost an idea that arises from statistics. The normal, norm, or normalcies do not exist in the real world of people, despite the fact that we are told we can modify our behavior and train our bodies and minds to reach it.” (33). In this passage Mooney highlights similar ideas presented by Dudley-Marling & Gurn about normalcy.

    Read More

More about Abnormality Definition Essay

Open Document