How abnormalities become normalized and what can be done about them.

Talk of “normalising” anything in 2024 is frequently presented in a good light. I’ve seen requests to normalize everything from postpartum bodies to having conversations about mental health at work, both on and off social media. Naturally, the goal is to dismantle taboos that may be harmful or even dangerous.

However, there is another type of normalization that is far less well known. It can be detrimental and is more pernicious and less conscious. It is the normalization of patterns, circumstances, and occurrences that aren’t actually “normal” at all.