#sk1576

http://www.makers.com/lauren-berger

when we were splitting into the racial caucus groups, one of the options was “muslim” and i, along with others in my group thought this was incorrect labeling, as “muslim” is not a race. however, i am used to people referring to “muslim” as a whole race. muslims come from all over the world. the stereotypical muslim is someone from the middle east perhaps with a beard or headscarf, but not every muslim looks like that, obviously. i, for example, am not seen as looking “muslim enough.” what does that even mean? just because i don’t wear a headscarf and have somewhat lighter features than other muslims doesn’t mean that i am not a muslim. my favorite is when people try to guess my ethnicity and get it wrong, and then blame it on me because i don’t fit into that stereotype. i can choose to dress however i want, but i can’t be blamed for not looking like a stereotypical pakistani girl because my features are not of my choosing.

for this gender performance assignment, i decided to change the way i would usually sit. girls are taught that we need to close or cross our legs when we sit down, however, boys are never taught this. they can sit in whatever way is comfortable for them and i think this is unfair. i have a girl friend who likes to “man spread” her legs when she sits on the bus because she says she likes to see the expression on some people’s faces when she does this. many people just stare at her but look away when she looks back at them. i decided to do this when i went home this weekend so i could see my family’s reactions. i didn’t have to wait that long. i put my leg up on my chair with my knee upwards and my other leg was stretched out in front of me. my mom told me to stop sitting like that and put my leg down. i noticed that sometimes my dad sits like this and no one has ever said anything to him. i also notice this when my three year old sister sits with her legs spread, my mom is always telling her not to sit like that. girls are taught from a young age what we must and must not do even if it contradicts with our comfort.