Danger Of Dichotomy Essay

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A dichotomy consists of two groups that are defined in rigid terms. If a person belongs to one group then, according to the concept of dichotomies, they cannot belong to the other. These two groups are often contrasted with each other, which creates a power imbalance that disproportionately favors one group over the other. Naturally, because of this power imbalance, there are some dangers to the creation of dichotomies.
One such danger is that anyone who does not fit cleanly into the existing categories may feel marginalized and unimportant. Often, society is built around dichotomies to aid in the ability to quickly categorize people so that members can figure out how best to act in any given situation. For instance, in American society women and men are frequently believed to have different …show more content…
When someone struggles in this task because they fit neither group in a dichotomy they are left by the wayside. A second danger to consider is the danger of assimilation. The lack of belonging that some may feel because of the creation of a binary system, whether one belongs outside both groups or just the disfavored group, may result in a quest to assimilate to the societal norms, even if it comes at a great cost. This mentality is dangerous because it can hinder people from reaching their full potential or even leave them open to manipulation and abuse. In order to better illustrate the two dangers mentioned I will provide two examples from class materials. The first example comes from the novel The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. This book is written from the point of view of Lou, an autistic man holds down a job while struggling with a new treatment that could reserve his condition. As a result of not being a member of the favored group, Lou and his coworkers have grown up being told that they are somehow flawed. Despite their extraordinary ability to
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