Mythical Norm

One of the biggest questions we can ask ourselves is: what drives one to prefer a certain someone? In the “Age, Race, Class and Sex: Women Redefining Difference” paper by Adure Lorde, an in depth analysis of the “mythical norm” in the U.S. is presented to the reader. Adure states that "In America, this norm is usually defined as white, thin, male, young, heterosexual, Christian, and financially secure”.  The idea that this is a mythical norm of specified to a white male makes it a “white privilege”. Furthermore,  though a white woman can marry the mythical norm, she would never be described in the norm because she is not male and may or may not be financially secure.  

This is a good example of the mythical norm, which is based off what is normal, common and typical. Not only is the mythical norm based off what one looks like but also how one behaves, what is and is not acceptable in that time.
-Eleni Sarantinos