Normalization
To normalize a form of categorism is to make that categorism perceived as more normal and acceptable.
The normalization may be about a specific focus or a specific facet. Normalization of a foci of categorism can be a matter of outright arguing that the targeted category of people had it coming, doesn't deserve to be protected from harm, or somehow simply doesn't count. Normalization of a facet of categorism can be a matter of downplaying or trivializing the harm this facet of categorism does. To normalize a facet of categorism is often indirectly a matter of normalizing certain foci of categorism, by normalizing facets that are often used against the targeted group.
Interactions
This facet of categorism is an expression of: prejudice, bigotry and discrimination.
It is likely to intersect with facets such as:
- Violence: Creating or reproducing the idea that violence against a certain category of people is natural, unavoidable or justified in one way of "they have it coming" or another.
- Supremacism: Constructing supremacism as being not supremacism but instead simply the natural order of things.
- Biased Balance: Creating an illusion that we need a balance between for example violence versus freedom from violence or supremacism versus equality, thus establish that a certain level of violation should be expected and accepted.
As well as with abstractions such as:
- Equivocation: Making a word for the targeted category synonymous with either the categorism against them or a justification for the categorism.
Examples of applying this facet to a particular foci of categorism can include:
- Misogyny: Normalizing violence against women by arguing that women ought to be afraid at all time and accept spousal abuse as well as rape-threats from strangers as their lot in life.
- Racism: Normalizing white supremacism by arguing that people of color are inherently inferior and that rigid race hierarchies in society are simply "natural" as ordained by God or evolution.
