Society gives us boxes. As women or men we are given boxes that we are expected to fit into and if we do not it is considered abnormal. If you have studied psychology at all the following will not be new to you but I always find this interesting.
When we look at Psychology there is something called Abnormal Psychology and there is a whole list of people who study this. So what is Abnormal Psychology?
“Those in the field of abnormal psychology study people’s emotional, cognitive, and/or behavioral problems. Abnormal behavior may be defined as behavior that is disturbing (socially unacceptable), distressing, maladaptive (or self‐defeating), and often the result of distorted thoughts (cognitions). “
Abnormal behavior is defined in the context of what is considered “socially unacceptable.” In other words, normalcy is defined by the culture we live within. We are given boxes to fit into and if we do not fit in those boxes it is considered abnormal. It is for this reason that over time we have seen the field of mental health evolve and take different shapes. For example being a homosexual used to be classified as a mental health disorder. Now abnormal psychology does go beyond this and not fitting in the boxes does not automatically mean we qualify for a mental health disorder.
However, not fitting in the boxes is difficult because it is considered abnormal. Over time what it means to be a woman has changed. It has evolved. However, to get to this place there had to be women who were willing to stand up and refuse to fit into the box that society wanted to shove them in to.
That is not an easy place to live. To be okay with being different is difficult. However, if we never challenge the status quo it will never change. If we do not open doors then we will never move forward.
Whoever you are, male, female, cyborg (who knows), I want you to know that it is okay to kick down the walls and refuse to wear a label. It is okay to be different and for people to not understand you. It is okay to not fit in the box and it is okay to love the people that do not fit into a box. Because the people that do not fit into the boxes are the ones that are brave enough to be different and will be the ones that change their corner of the world.
Gamer Girl 