Middlesex+journal+entry+12

1. phallus (452): I feel a little silly for not knowing that this is just another word for penis.. (I actually knew about the Theater of the Absurd and a little bit about Ionesco who focused on that area of dramaturgy...theatre nerd right here!) the Velvet Underground (454): an American rock band that were mostly active/popular in the late 1960s to early 70s. They performed in NYC.

Dearest [Insert Friend Name Here],

You'll always be the same person and the same friend to me as you always have been. I'm lucky to know someone like you and the new discovery of your ambiguous gentalia does not change the fact taht we are friends and I am always here for you. I hope you know that no matter what, I will have your back during this journey if ever you need me! You'll always be [Insert name]. Although many may give you labels from this point forward (especially medically), you'll still be [insert name], or whatever you most prefer to be called. I love you and I just wanted you to know that!

Your dear friend, Me

I just saw the other "OR" question! I really want to look into that one so I'll probably come back here to post some information on that...I just briefly started looking and found this website on the Bible's view on intersex, and even just skimming it, I saw a lot of it to appear a little offensive..I'll look more into it soon. http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4222623/k.8B00/What_is_a_Biblical_View_of_Transgendered_People_and_Hermaphrodites.htm

4 / 8. "But I was beginning to understand something about normality. Normality wasn't normal. It couldn't be. If normality were normal, everybody could leave it alone. They could sit back and let normality manifest itself" (446). I really like this quotation because it adds to the ambiguity of normality - what is normal? As Cal continues, he states that doctors "weren't sure normality was up to the job. And so they felt inclined to give it a boost" (446). Ultimately, "normal" is unattainable because it doesn't exist. No one is normal. This idea of "normal" is everyone's personal perspective/perception of what they are supposed to be like/what society expects them to be like.