The Tyranny of the Normal: An Anthology

Most cultures ostracize people who do not fit within their norms. They pressure abnormal people to change their appearance, fix what bothers others, or stay out of sight — a pressure Leslie Fiedler has named “The Tyranny of the Normal”. This anthology examines the experiences of those who live outside social norms for attractiveness, size, and shape; it also explores the reactions of “normal” people to those who seem grotesque.