Deconstructing the idea of "normal", the dangers of oversimplifying, and exploring the vast range of human diversity.
Last week, our class was assigned to read Chapter 7: There's No Such Thing as Normal from Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design by Kat Holmes, and give a critical response to the text. Let me start off by saying that I am a big fan of Kat Holmes (check out her book). So I was beyond eager to read this text. I'll share my thoughts with you here:
“All people are variable over the course of their lives." (Holmes, pg. 98)
This statement used by Holmes in her argument against normative ideologies in design, was hugely profound to me. I have heard this statement before, but in this context it somehow took on a new meaning. This statement implies not only the inevitable physical barriers people face as they age and live (injuries, loss of vision, hearing loss, loss of mobility, etc), but there is also a layer of social and emotional variability that occurs throughout the course of our lives. As we change jobs, move to different cities, and create new social circles, our perspectives and environments change, and how we interact and participate also changes. We are not static creatures, and life is dynamic and fluid and unpredictable. This moves into my second point of interpretation: how do we design for something that is unpredictable?
“The more I learn about inclusive design, the more I’m convinced that there are 7.4 billion different types of people on the planet.” (Holmes, pg. 110)
The concept of designing for the entire world is unfathomable. It creates fear to approach the idea and overall hesitancy from the general public or complete disbelief that it is even possible. I agree with Holmes; empathy is exactly how we are going to design for the entire world. In the past, we solved problems physically (creating tools, building bridges to cross waterways). We evolved towards a society that used their brain to solve problems (technological advances, theoretical models, etc.). I think we have now reached an era where our emotional capacity, our empathy, and our heart is going to be the key to advancing our society now and in the future.
And we cannot move forward as a human race unless we take everyone at the margins with us.
What does normal mean anyways?
If one types the word "normal" into Google's search bar, the first definition that pops up is "conforming to a standard." I'd like to take a moment to unpack that definition. Does this mean when we are talking about people, and we call them "normal", are we merely identifying the ability for someone to conform to a standard?
What is the standard? Who sets this standard? Politicians? Mass media? The kid who bullied you in primary school?
What is conformity? Is it when we wear a certain brand of clothing? Wear a certain hairstyle? Follow a set of rules?
At some point in our lives, I believe we all experience the societal pressure to conform to this so-called standard. The pressure to conform to various visible and invisible standards goes far beyond keeping up with the latest fashion trends. What happens when we don't conform to these standards? We get left behind.
Fashion, pharmaceutical research, federal budget allocation, legislation and beyond, those who don't fit the definition of normal get left out. If you don't conform to their idea of "normalcy", you are left at the margins of society. What happens if you are not a "normal" patient for an FDA study? Or a "normal" member of society when congress is voting in a new policy? Services, products, medications, and policies are not designed for your needs. "You aren't normal, so you don't matter." This is the message that is perpetuated when we oversimplify the complexity of our existence, the dynamic nature of our needs, and make decisions to best suit those who are "normal". It is dangerous and harmful to society when we oversimplify the human existence. We must explore the vast range of human diversity and make systems that encompass the edges of our versatility. If we create systems that start at the margins of society, we will move towards a more equitable and diversely-rich society.
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