Four I's of Oppression

     The ideal of "normalcy" ruins any society. It is hands down the most damaging title to give someone. The concept of normalcy makes it so that we as society have a chance to put someone down whether, it is something they choose for themselves or were just given at birth. This concept fits into each category of the four I's of oppression. For example; the ideological stereotypes, the institutional practices of conformity, and the unrealized internalized beliefs.

    Normalcy is a problem in the ideological sense because stereotypes are literally all about fitting to be "normal". The definition of stereotype is "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing" (Oxford). Anyone who does not fit into their own stereotype is instantly deemed as not normal. To put it bluntly, that is not ok. For example, I'm a boy and I have long hair, why is that abnormal. She is a girl and she has short hair, why is that abnormal. They are non-binary and don't identify with a gender, why is that abnormal. A person is a human just trying to be a human, why is that abnormal.

    The issue of normalcy in an institutional setting and an internal setting go hand in hand. The issue starts with the concepts of being "normal" being presented to you in the institutional setting. Next, the repetition of these beliefs can cement themselves into your brain without you even realizing. In most cases it takes an outside source to get you to see it yourself. A strong example for me is the Catholic church. I want to start this out by saying I have no issue with anyone who is a Catholic. I completely respect any religion and the entire reason we are in this class is to not judge someone for what they believe in. In my own case, I strongly disagree with some of the ideals that the Catholic church as a community and history has formed. When I was little I was a member of the Catholic church and I was taught that it was not ok to be gay. I wasn't told that outright but the church used its institutional power to plant that seed of thought. I never had a thought that it was wrong to be a part of that community but I had never had a case come up where I had to have an opinion. That was all true until someone I am extremely close to came out to me. When he first told me I involuntarily felt uncomfortable and I couldn't recognize why. The next day I had the thought of "well I guess God doesn't like him anymore" and then it hit me "what the **** did I just say". I was so disgusted by my own thought and I started to do my own research and thinking and it hit me I was raised in a Catholic church that spread the idea of homophobia. However, I can recognize while the church planted this seed, it was hearing the constant remarks from my diehard Catholic, homophobic (now conformed and we all live as a happy family) grandmother who was nonstop spreading the ideas of homophobia and my parents who would tell me that there is nothing wrong with being gay but being too afraid to actually say something to my grandmother, that actually put these thoughts in my brain unknowingly. It is important to, as future teachers and possibly parents, to fight these ideals and actually say something to these spouts of hateful words to actually make a change and protect future generations from subconscious ideals.