Definition Essay: Can People In Society Be Normal?

How can people in society be normal? Ordinary is desirable, and anyone else is a social misfit (C.M., 2013). Catharine M, a journalist for magazine Teen Ink, explains normal as “Normality is an impossible and improbable dream that we strive for all our lives. We strive for it, because it will give us that ego boost that we need to reassure us we fit in. Normal is perfection. Normal is the exception.” Normality is a universal struggle for society and what is “normal” changes with changing societal standards. Since the term “normal” varies with society, the question “Can normal be defined?” arises. Normal cannot have one exact definition because of social stigmas, the influence of culture, and the power of mass media. Social stigmas define as the societal disapproval and judgment of
Those individuals broke the mold of normal, and showed others that it is okay to break the status quo. Without those few brave souls that broke the social norms, society today would not have: the iPhone, evolving music to dance to, medicine that saves lives on the daily, and new fashion senses to name a few. In society, creativity and living outside the box are normal. Since everything happens within social means, who is normal? A better question would be: what is normal? Society has various definitions of normal. Individuals would try and say something in such of a way of the status quo, but then they are contradicting themselves. Normality goes in circles. Normal contains the same meaning as status quo, but status quos vary from culture, media, and stigmas. If someone does something outside the means of their culture, media, and stigmas, that action aspires acceptance. So, the question remains: is there a set definition of