#ca495

As I stated in class I found it interesting how the white group felt uncomfortable. I feel it was because they’re not used to having to recognize what it is like to be separated from a group of others. I also said how it was uncomfortable being in the multiracial group. But didn't discuss why. It was simply because we were together because we didn’t belong in any other group. Yes, we all are similar and can relate to not feeling as if we belong, but to some level I,, along with other multiracial children, will never relate to anyone the same way people of the same single race will feel. I will always feel I’m not ___ enough and I will always feel like I don’t belong anywhere specifically. While people who are 100% one race can completely identify and relate to the struggles of their peers who are the same race, I will never know the full experience of being 100% white (people make negative comments about hispanics around me all the time not knowing they are offending me) and I will never fully understand the struggles of being a minority because I don't look like the stereotypical Latina.

I’m glad I was able to talk about how annoying it is to be multiracial in the group because I feel like most of the time its just annoying for people to hear. They’re usually like “ok you're white shut up.” Its really frustrating. And thats the main thing we talked about. Other people defining us. I feel the Pegue reading was really relatable because she said everything I feel, except it doesn’t feel to me like I have an immigrant mother. I do, she was born in Columbia, but she came to the US at such a young age I feel the experience would be totally different if she had come later in life. I love being cultured and I relate much more to my hispanic side, simply because I’ve been more exposed to it. It’s a shame people feel the need to tell me who I am when in reality I’m the only one who can identify myself.

Although I didn’t do the exercise this weekend in the past I’ve done things in the past such as sitting differently and not wearing makeup. Not even to push boundaries, but to make myself more comfortable without conforming to societies norms for women If you notice, in class i rarely sit with my legs crossed, simply because its uncomfortabe. Even though society has taught women to sit in a certain position, I’ve always sat with my legs uncrossed. I remember in elementary school boys telling me to close my legs, along with some teachers and I never understood why. By the time i was old enough to understand, I’d already had the habit of not doing so because i saw boys sitting the same way I felt comfortable. The only times I really cross my legs is when I feel exposed (wearing a dress or skirt).