inspiration

Every society has a constructed, “default” mode of existence.

Scholar Valerie Purdie-Vaughns notes that American society is shaped by heterocentrism, ethnocentrism, and androcentrism—producing a “prototypical American” who is a straight, white male. Let's call him Bob. If Bob is an even rounder character, he should also be able-bodied, middle class, and probably Christian. Variations of “Bob” exist globally: the Chinese Bob, for instance, would be a non-religious, straight, able-bodied man of Han ethnicity. There's also the British Bob, the Australian Bob, the list goes on…

Historically, the “Bobs” control the dominant narrative, make the rules, and design society's institutions to suit and enhance their own image. Those who do not fit this archetype—across the spectrum of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, class, ability, and other identities—are routinely categorized as a deviation from the norm, their voices marginalized or even rendered invisible.

But they shouldn't be.

This zine is named non-default (and yes, it should not be capitalized) because there is a necessity for non-prototypical individuals to voice our unique experiences and thoughts. Only when diverse voices are heard can social change be possible.