Like many people who come from immigrants or ancestry of displaced people I have struggled with how I identify. It became increasingly harder in recent years when I moved back to the continental United States. When people ask who I am and where I come from I never have a straight answer. I always say, “It’s complicated.” It makes it easier than going through the long jumbled up history that is my life. Until recently I didn’t really think of my identity as anything important. I never had the words to describe myself so I just didn’t. The reading “Identity Terms” was very informative. Although these are not all the terms people use to identify themselves with, there are still so many of them. You never really think of all of them until you see them written down.
The theory I chose was “sex-marking”. This was by far the most interesting theory I read. In all honesty, I had to read it a few times to understand and even after I did that it still struck me as a bit ridiculous. However, I do believe the statement made is extremely relevant in today’s climate. “If I am writing a book review, the use of personal pronouns to refer to the author creates the need to know whether that person’s reproductive cells are the sort which produce ova or the sort which produce sperm” (Frye 1983: 22). In a time when everyone is very sensitive and in tune with their gender, sexuality, and identity it is careless to reduce a preference of pronouns to just their cellular function. It is not new however, I see it all the time. People make statements that refer to gender identity as strictly biological. Just recently JK Rowling referred to trans male to females as ‘people who menstruate’. It is demeaning to undermine someone’s identity to what it has very very very little to do with.
Hello Adynah,
Thank you for sharing your story. This is true when you move to a new place, you have to cope with a new environment and new people. This will definitely change what used to be regular and we happen to struggle to get used to with new environment. But it takes courage to be a survivor. Sex- making theory was the one where I could also relate myself with the experience that I had in the society but I would like to more how you could relate that in your life experience or among the people/society?
Hi Adynah , Thanks for your transparency . It can be challenging trying to explain your background and adjusting to new things places and people. I personally use to feel ashamed to say that I am just African American. I felt like i was suppose to be more than just black. What you said about not thinking your identity was important was relatable. Glad we know gained some more knowledge and understanding that our identity and story is important.