Andrew Solomon was bullied growing up because of his dyslexia and homosexuality. This led him on a lifelong exploration of identity and meaning.He divides identity into two categories.
Your “vertical identity” consists of traits inherited from parents. Your “horizontal identity” consists of traits different from family.Vertical identities are viewed as “normal,” whereas horizontal are treated as flaws.But it was Solomon’s horizontal identity that helped him forge a meaningful life.
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