Kiya Jackson- Week 5

In "Fucked Up: I Would Always Rather Be Abnormal Than Holistic," Shana Bulhan Haydock argues that health issues, specifically mental, are "part of the universal human experience" (43). In this context, the author argues that mental and emotional forms of expression are threatened by society's definition of "normal." That is, as society defines what is "normal," it is simultaneously stigmatizing mental health issues. The author ultimately hopes to widen the lens at which we view things as "normal." It is heavily emphasized that society's need to be whole and readily fixed also greatly threatens individualism as well as "divergent entities." I agree with this article because it goes back to questioning what is considered normal and who has the power to define someone or something as normal, whole, or in need of fixing. I guess the author is acknowledging that it's okay to not be whole. This article also reminded me of the Netflix series "OA" and the medical system's treatment of OA's mental health and experiences. For instance, Haydock mentions, "Ironically, 'alternative' treatments are touted and moralize in mush the same way as medication is. Just as many psychiatrists and other doctors believe in the 'drug' em up and shut 'em up' mentality, many 'alternative' movement leaders and practitioners push holistic treatments on people with similar threatening or shaming tactics" (47). This reminded me of how OA's mother rushed to "normalize" her daughter via medication. Thinking that medication would be helpful and restorative, it actually caused more harm to OA than by letting her be. This reflects another significant point about this article, which emphasizes changing Western society's definition of holistic health practices--like medicine--to include spirituality, indigenous knowledge, and understanding.

Question: Who has the power to define what is "normal" in society?

Works cited:
Haydock, S. B. (n.d.). DSM 2: Asian american edition 2019: "Fucked up: I would
     always rather be abnormal than holistic."
[Silhouettes of two humans leaning back-to-back; Looks like watercolor was
     applied]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.trainingjournal.com/articles/
     opinion/how-can-we-break-taboo-mental-health-workplace