Today, I read a fascinating essay by Liat Ben-Moshe, Anthony J. Nocella II, and A.J. Withers on the intersections of anarchism, queerness, and disability. One section delves into the (relatively recent) construction of normalcy, which I found particularly interesting.
The concept of normalcy emerged between 1800 and 1850 as part of the modernity project in Western Europe and colonized territories in America. In fact, the term "normal" entered the English language around 1840.
Prior to this, the ideal was the dominant concept. The ideal was seen as unattainable, with everyone falling short to varying degrees, and imperfection was accepted without penalty (Roman-Greek culture).
In the nineteenth century, the concept of the norm, related to the "average", entered European culture. This shift, fueled by the rise of measurements and statistics as state tools (biopolitics), allowed for the governance of individuals and groups based on their performance.
Unlike the ideal, the norm implies that most people should cluster around the mean, creating pressure to conform. Disabled and marginalized groups are often blamed for failing to meet these standards, even though they are crucial in defining and maintaining them. This process hierarchized the population, projecting differences onto stigmatized groups to sustain the concept of normalcy.
If you want to read more on this, check out the full essay here: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/c-b-daring-j-rogue-deric-shannon-and-abbey-volcano-queering-anarchism#toc77
