Why do people call non-disabled people "normal?"?

Question

The term normal is inaccurate, because it implies that people with disabilities aren't normal or that they are less than human. They are not "broken" and they do not need to become "normalized." What is normal for one person may not be normal for another. There really is no such thing as normal.

If you are referring to people without disabiltites, please use the term "typical."

I am not overly sensitive. In fact, I am not the first to say this. I work at a non-profit agency that advocates for children with disabilities, and the preferred term for people without disabilities is "typical."
I also have ADD and I find it offensive to be told that I'm not normal.
I have a postcard hanging over my desk that says "The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well!" It's so true- almost everyone has some kind of issue or problem to deal with, even if they don't have any diagnosible disabilities.

lfh1213, people with disabilities are in fact atypical, because they are in the minority. Typical just means the majority. However, normal means not only the majority, but also the correct or preferred state. This is why "abnormal" is offensive but "atypical" isn't.

Answer 1

It isn't meant to be hurtful. The truth however is that most people are not disabled. Regular, high-functioning people who have no physical or mental disabilities set the standard for "normal" in this type of conversation.

edit> So if "normal" means the correct or preferred state, are you arguing that your having ADD is the preferred state?

Answer 2

My son is ADHD. I see him as normal. I don't find a problem with the word normal because it is a synonym of typical. I've found that the normal or correct way of dealing with a disability is to get info on the situation. It shouldn't matter what anyone says or thinks. My son is 10. What some call a disability I call a gift. I have three children the two that most would call normal seem to give me more trouble than he does. He is more loving, affectionate, and polite than his normal sisters. He has learned from his disability and he knows his limits so he paces himself. So this to me is a normal reaction. We all have our faults but alot of times it's the ones who do have disabilities that see the world in a better light.

Answer 3

Because for some reason some people havent clued in to the fact that the term to use is "able bodied" as opposed to "disabled". Some countries are slower than others, and apparently are still using words like "mental retardation" etc.

I believe there are agencies in the US that still call themselves something like "Association for Mental Retardation" which I personally find appalling.

In Canada you would never hear the word "normal" used in reference to "able bodied people".

I am always surprised to see it thrown around here on Yahoo all the time.

There is no such thing as "normal", there is no hallmark to measure a standard "normal" against.

Even able bodied people are not all the same, dont all have the same abilities, so using "normal" really just has risen out of ignorance, and lack of education and awareness.

Answer 4

"normal" is just a term meaning able bodied. There's nothng more or less to it. IT doesn't imply that disabled people aren't human, or less of one. It just means they have a physical or mental disability people can easily pick out. Most people are able bodied, and those who aren't, and disabled. this is a bad term too, because it impliles they can't do things, when they can, but just different. But it all depends on the meaning u give terms. I don't see anything wrong with "normal" for able bodied people, but then, I don't think anyone is "normal"...just the norm.

Answer 5

I don't believe they are intentionally trying to be insensitive by using the term 'normal.' What is normal, right? I have ran into this issue many times with my mentally challenged son, when people make reference to 'normal' people. I just smile, and give them the benefit of the doubt, but after your better description of 'normal,' I am going to use that! Society has used that term so much it has become old hat. I like your 'typical' use much better. Sometimes we have to overlook people, in ignorance, but that is not bad, but if they remain ignorant, that is a shame, for they choose to not educate themselves on a particular subject. You are quite able to correct them I believe if you suggest the 'typical' word. I know some so called, 'normal' people if you will, that definitely are not 'normal' or even typical! lol :) Thank you for posting a nice question to be addressed. Shows you are assertive enough to put something out there that annoys you, and bring about awareness. Thank you for that. added note: Dear, it's sometimes those so called normal people that gives me concern. lol

Answer 6

This is just a form of political correctness going bad again. A garbage man can be called a sanitation engineer, but he is still just the garbage man. No disrespect in calling them garbage men. They are a very important part of our society and needed badly. The term garbage man is not being disrespectful it is just a job description title. As for Sanitation Engineers, well the term engineers is not a satisfactory word for there job because they are not engineers, and they are not performing sanitation services. (Moving trash is not sanitizing anything). The term sanitation Engineer was just some idiots way to make the term garbage man more acceptable to the garbage men. Again I emphasize they are important and i am in no way slamming them. Your use of NORMAL to refer to people with no disability is along the same lines. It is a general term to refer to the general public who are considered to be physically, but more often mentally fit. Look up the term normal in the dictionary. The use of the term normal is not demeaning or derogatory towards the physically handicapped. Normal would be closer to saying the majority is always the normal standard. This being true if those suffering from Parkinson's disease outnumber the people in the world who do not have the disease, then they would become the normal.

Answer 7

To the average person, a disabled person ISN'T normal. They lack some capacity or capability that the average person posesses, and I'm sorry, but that isn't normal. I'm not sure it's anything more than political correctness to call an average person "average" instead of "normal," and while I have no interest in belittling a person with a disability, I likewise have little taste for political correctness when it's obvious that someone is NOT normal. It doesn't mean that they're bad, or something foolish like that, but to call someone severely handicapped (for example) "normal" is just plain ridiculous.

Answer 8

((The term normal is inaccurate, because it implies that people with disabilities aren't normal or that they are less than human. They are not "broken" and they do not need to become "normalized." What is normal for one person may not be normal for another. There really is no such thing as normal.)))

To explain this the way I see it in my own eyes and heart.
Is there is no such thing as normal in life that defines a whole race, human, faith, or disablility.
As I've lived with epilepsy my entrie life, from being dropped on my head at birth , which brok my skull and caused a brain tumor.
So to me though Epielpsy is considered a disability. I dont see it as one. I only see it as a limitation. and EVERYONE has limitations. Some are phobias that keep them from doing things, some get sick from heights or travelling in car or by planes or boats. and so on .
So the way my life is and what I've had to deal with , IS NORMAL for me. It's my normal. If I woke up one day pefectly whole, with no broken bones, no health problems , That would not be normal for me, as it is not what I've lived with my whole life. So it would be strange for me.

No
One
Really
Makes
A
Lick --- of sense when using this word. As normal is how you live and handle your own life and quality of it.
As every single on of us are different, even twins are different as they all have different views and personalities which lead them to go different ways. No set look or action, and way of life, can define normal. Only the person living in that situation whether healthy or sick happy or sad can see life it as normal for them
Can you imagine a world where we were all clones the same styles actions, limits, knowledge , we'd think the same, act the same, and look the same. Would you consider that normal.? It'd seem that's the only way that term could be used as descrbing a whole group as normal. All clones.
So don't take it to heart in any way. when someone says you're not normal. ( meaning like them ) consider the source it comes from. For I'd never want to be like them, Those that see only their points of views as right. As they only see the myths and the lies they want to believe. Reality is they use the word they want it to mean, because they cant be wrong.
God knows you, and you are normal to Him as He allowed you to be created this way.
My life is normal for me, as your life is normal for you.

Answer 9

Actually, that entirely depends on definitions. Being normal and being human are not equivalents - in fact, I know a fair amount of people who would protest to being called normal, or take to calling normal people "normies."

"Normal" in this context would refer to the average, the cathegory in which most people fall. Though you are right in saying, there really is no such thing as normal - because nearly no-one is average acroos the entire line.

However, what you are saying is "polital correctness", which usually does more harm than good.

Answer 10

Because having a disability makes you different and therefore not normal. Normal would suggest healthy with no disabilities (or at a glance, no physical disabilities). While I'm not 100% in agreement that it's correct, I'm not as anal as to find that much fault with it. I'm not exactly normal and I can live with that. It's only if someone tried to use it against me or someone else then I'd have a problem with it.

Basically, I'd say you can call people normal or not but you can't discriminate against them (unless it is entirely reasonable obviously).