I woke up in the middle of the night the other night not because of insomnia, but because the world is in such an uncertain period of time. I woke up to thoughts on writing a powerful article on race, ethnicity, and intersectionality. I remember sitting up in my bed thinking, wow this future article is going to be powerful, now, I sit here trying to find the right words to produce the impact I have for my vision.
I haven’t written a long reflection article in a while because my mind has had too many thoughts to process in such a short amount of time. The past four months have been a whirlwind, from having my Study Abroad cancelled, to moving back home, online school, having health procedures pushed back, and turning 21. That’s not even including the Black Lives Matter Movement, Mental Health Awareness month, Pride month, the Supreme Court ruling, and the reopening of states during a Pandemic. Even rereading all of that is a mouthful. So how do we allow ourselves to process what is happening in our personal lives as well as what is happening around the world and in our own country, state, or town?
It takes time to process all of it. It’s okay if you are still coming to terms with all of it, in fact, it’s completely normal.
So, here are some of my thoughts about everything that is happening currently.
Let’s start here:
“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” - Rosa Parks
Black Lives Matter
I understand that I will never truly understand because I am not Black. But I stand with them, support them, and advocate for them. I will continue to educate myself on these issues and donate when I can.
I can, however, understand the importance of intersectionality. A topic that has continued to be circulated on social media due to the recent events. I wish it didn’t take people being killed to have this topic brought up. It breaks my heart and soul that intersectionality is now only becoming more commonly talked about in the media because of recent events. When intersectionality should have been brought up years ago. Intersectionality is beyond important, yet not many people are aware of its impact.
Intersectionality isn’t something the media talks about and it’s not taught in schools. I didn’t learn about it until my second semester of sophomore year in college. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of intersectionality is, “the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups.”
Of course, there is so much more than just what Merriam-Webster has to say about it. We can use real life examples. Most people have an intersectional identity, but aren’t aware of it. I, for example, know that I am. I am a young mixed-ethnicity womxn who identifies as Latinx (Salvadorian), but I am aware of my other ethnicities. I take into consideration the fact that I am from a middle-class household who was raised by a strong Irish-Italian mother and a hard working Salvadorian father.
Intersectionality is all about showing all the different aspects of a person. We aren’t just one or the other, but we are whole as who we are. Yet, oftentimes, in the media we are put into categories, such as Latin, Black, Asian, White or LGBTQ, but what about the people who are both, all, or mixed. What about the people with different disabilities, abilities, and illnesses? Does the media only want part of us represented? How does one fit into a box when there isn’t a box that describes who they really are?
My biggest hope is for intersectionality in the media to be talked about more often. I want to see change in my generation, and we need to get started now, so our kids can feel represented instead of “othered."
Right now, is a critical time, but I'm hopeful change is coming, I can feel it in my bones.
I think the first step to get to this dream is to hold companies, corporations, the media, and people accountable for their impact on intersectionality. It can't just be about race anymore. There has to be complex identities represented.
For example, magazines and online beauty and fashion publications need to become much more inclusive. Growing up is hard enough, but when the media doesn’t represent what you look like, it makes you think you aren’t beautiful enough or good enough for society. It hurts so many young women who are of different skin colors, ethnicities, abilities, and sexual identities to not see themselves in the media. If the media was more inclusive than maybe people would feel more comfortable in their own skin.
Dear media,
Women should be shown with their scars instead of hidden.
Birthmarks should be embraced instead of erased.
Acne should be showcased, instead of covered up.
Plus sized models should just be called models.
We shouldn’t be promoting stereotypes, but instead showing authentic true people.
Everyone should be embraced for who they are.
The people who have been seen as “othered” are waiting for you to finally show them the love they deserve.
Media don’t just tell them, show them they are beautiful, tell us!
I hope this inspired you and reminded you that you are beautiful beyond belief, the media just doesn’t tell you it. My biggest dream in my career is to showcase real women and people who represent the real America through the use of the media, research, education, and writing.
Forever Always,
Emily
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