Essay On Diversity In The South

It is well known that the south is one of the most conservative places in the United States, with a mainly republican population, a history of racial tension, and the intolerance shown by some of the residents. The South prides itself on believing in “traditional” values and shows little to no understanding of the changes that are happening in the world. It’s no wonder then that I, as a half Mexican-American, gay young woman have run into prejudice and discrimination based on my sexaul orientation, gender, and race. It is natural for people to explore who they are and what they want to be as they are growing up, especially throughout puberty and the years following. In doing so, many young adults change their style various times, going through differences in their taste of clothes, hobbies, and hair styles. However, straying too far outside of social convention in a conservative southern town in Texas is almost a death wish. It comes as no surprise then, that when I first lobbed all my hair off into a rather short pixie cut, I was immediately thrown into the “outcast” category of my middle school. In high school, I was teased relentlessly for the way I dressed and that I enjoyed things typically for boys. At the job I currently I work at, I was always praised for being a diligent worker and making almost no mistakes. …show more content…
Eating dinner with my mother’s family always lead to political discussions. My father, being a second generation Mexican-American has very strong opinions on the debate over illegal citizens coming into the United States. Most of my mother’s family hold different opinions, always causing a debate and very tense desserts. As I mostly agree with my father, I was told to not voice my opinion unless strictly asked. I never really listened to that