Relating to or deriving from a standard or norm, especially of behavior; establishing what ought to be rather than what is.
From Latin 'norma' meaning 'carpenter's square' or 'rule', through French 'normatif'. The philosophical distinction between normative (prescriptive) and descriptive statements became central to ethics and social sciences in the 19th century.
Normative thinking is everywhere once you notice it - from speed limits to dress codes to social etiquette. The tension between 'is' and 'ought' that normative statements create has puzzled philosophers since David Hume first identified this problem in 1739.
Normative standards have historically encoded male experience as default—what is 'normal' in medicine, psychology, and law often reflects male physiology/behavior. Women's needs were pathologized as deviations (e.g., menstruation, hormonal cycles classified as disorders) rather than recognized as normal variation.
Use 'normative' carefully by specifying which population/sample established the norm. Acknowledge that 'norms' may reflect dominant groups and may exclude or disadvantage others.
["standard","typical for [specific group]","established baseline","reference range"]
Feminist science has demonstrated that broadening what counts as 'normal' (e.g., recognizing natural hormonal variation, diverse pain thresholds) corrects historical male-centered baselines and validates women's experiences.
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