The weight of Being "Normal"

Society and the system that controls it are increasingly pigeonholing us into labels, definitions, and concepts that limit our potential. We are not allowed to act, think, or dress in our own ways because what is imposed is deemed "correct." But if you think about it, absolutely everything—and I mean EVERYTHING—is a human invention. Nothing is "real" in that sense; they are all rules of a game created by the system itself.

Sometimes I feel so limited and tied up from my neck to the tips of my toes that it leaves me in a state of perpetual anger. Yes, I’m angry at the system, but I’m even angrier at the people who are brainwashed into thinking that consumerism, the division of human beings, and "tradition" are the answers to everything.

They aren't. In the past, humans were even more ignorant, and unfortunately, we remain so in most aspects. It doesn’t matter how much we study unknown sea creatures or how much we try to segregate cultures and people; we are missing the point.

Animals are not objects to be studied, and culture is meant to be shared. The problem is that humans believe they are superior to other species. We think we own the planet, the land, and the countries we invented. We think we are intelligent, but the reality is as Jane Goodall said: "What intelligent being destroys its only home?" We know nothing of animal wisdom, the wisdom of our planet, or our nature. Instead, the system separates men and women through consumerism to create two markets, two labels: good and evil, heaven and hell, white and black (not to mention how deeply racist that binary is).

Religions like Christianity have closed doors to ancestral knowledge; they have repressed us and continue to do so with manipulative discourses. "If you don't do this, you'll go to hell" or "You are sinning by doing that." The invention of "sin" as a tool to make people feel guilty for their own actions so they can be controlled is a very common tactic. These discourses manipulate the masses, causing fear and forcing a fake "respect." There are more churches than hospitals, and that is not an accident.

Even Jesus himself was against all of that. He was Palestinian, a revolutionary, and no, he wasn't a white, blue-eyed blonde. But of course, according to them, who would want a Black god?

Furthermore, "their holidays" are part of extreme consumerism. Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and New Year’s were stolen from pagan communities. Those celebrations had different names and were held to honor gods and nature in pagan cultures.

The divisions and labels we suffer simply for being who we are are extremely limiting. For example: a boy grows up with everyone telling him he is "normal," and that "normal" means he should like girls, dress a certain way, and speak a certain way. What happens? When he grows up, he will resent what he was taught was "wrong" and continue to repress himself. And if he manages to express himself and change (whether he likes people of his own gender or identifies as another gender), they will soon slap another label on him: Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc. The person might feel freer at first, but eventually, they realize they are still limited by labels. The point is simply to be.

Gender Roles 

In this patriarchal society, gender roles are imposed on us from childhood. No matter what we actually like, we are forced into a color and a role.

When I was little, I remember seeing my cousin with a toy car big enough for him to get inside and drive. I was obsessed with it. I told my dad I wanted one, and I remember vividly how he looked at me as if I had said something bizarre, and then he ignored me. Luckily, my mom (who was separated from my dad) bought me a remote-control car that I loved.

But my dad kept buying me pink strollers with dolls, kitchen kits, makeup, etc. That’s when you realize that everything bought for you as a little girl was pink and sexist; women are repressed from the moment they are born. While my cousin played with cars, running and having fun, I was limited to playing "mother" and cooking for a doll.

Motherhood is also a social construct constantly imposed on women: marriage, being a mother, and serving others. Of course, the situation varies by country. In Afghanistan, women can’t even go outside or speak without permission or a male guardian. In the United States, many marry very young without seeing the world. In my country, Argentina, women marry later and usually pursue careers, but injustices remain. Femicides still happen because female oppression exists everywhere. Whether it's high or low, sexism is still there. The system treats us like objects, baby machines, or servants for men. The church and the system want women submissive; any "rebel" is treated as subhuman.

Even the products or careers that were traditionally "for women" are now more expensive or lower paying. One day I went to the pharmacy to buy a razor and noticed the price difference. The men’s razors (green, blue, black) were much cheaper and better quality—they lasted longer! The women’s razors (pink, purple) were much more expensive and poor quality. This is the "Pink Tax."

Speaking of razors, women are forced to shave constantly. In ancient times, body hair on a woman meant she was an adult. One day, I hadn't shaved my legs—not because I forgot, but because it wasn't necessary. My dad looked at me and said, passive-aggressively, that if I wanted, we could go to the pharmacy to buy razors. I told him "No" angrily and left. It’s incredible that a woman can’t just exist because body hair is considered "gross" on us but "normal" on men.

Beauty standards for women are often rooted in pedophile —that’s why they don’t accept cellulite, stretch marks, hair, or acne. Body hair is there for a reason; it protects against irritation. It doesn't cause bad odor; that depends on your diet. In my country, there is so much fatphobia toward women. We are expected to have a body that is literally impossible: a waist so small your organs don't fit, but a huge chest and an enviable backside. It is anatomically impossible.

On the other hand, while men have more rights, they are emotionally devalued. The sexism hurts them too. They have to fulfill the stereotype of the "strong man": dominant, impulsive, invulnerable, cold. They can't cry or dress colorfully because that's "gay" or "affeminate." They are kept in a mold where they can't express themselves. They are human beings, not cold machines.

Anyway, I’ve vented enough. Don’t let anyone control you. Make your own decisions, have your own criteria, and think before you act. Don't speak from ignorance and always put yourself in someone else's shoes. Be empathetic. Or don't—do whatever you want; these are just my tips.

I hope you found this interesting. Thanks for reading.

V.