Definition:
Normalization is the gradual process by which harmful, exploitative, or unethical practices become accepted as ordinary, inevitable, or unremarkable through repetition and cultural exposure.
Critical Note:
Normalization rarely happens through force. It works by slow acclimatization. Practices that would once have provoked outrage instead come to feel boring, unavoidable, or “just how things are.” Once normalized, harm becomes harder to name, challenge, or even notice.
Usage Context:
Often used to describe how surveillance, precarious work, inaccessible systems, intrusive advertising, or reduced rights become socially accepted over time without explicit consent.