Introduction
For the purposes of this paper, I have chosen to focus on the social identities of white privilege and my Mexican ethnicity in discussing how both have impacted the construction of my social identity. Patton, Evans, Forney, Guido & Quaye (2016) mention in their text “Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice” Ferman and Gallego’s model of Latina/o Ethnoracial identity, which I will use to discuss how my Mexican ethnicity and being white has shaped my social identity.
Latina/o Identity
Ferdman and Gallego’s Model of Latina and Latino Identity is comprise of six orientation which include: White-identified, Undifferented/Denial, Latinos as Other, Subgroup-Identified, Latino-Identified, Latino-Integrated. According …show more content…
(Patton et. al, 2016, p. 107) Through my personal experience I adopted the white racial identity growing up because it was something I could relate physically. Growing up I would be constantly moving and would not have time to maintain long lasting relationships to establish friendships. Television influenced me on the white racial culture of what to speak, customs to follow, and to view those that did not speak English to be inferior. Identifying with the white racial culture was reinforced by classmates and instructors who constantly question my identity when I began to speak Spanish. The White-Identified orientation reminded me of Torres (2003) “cultural dissonance” concept in which he states “ that it is the conflict between one’s own sense of culture & what others expect as well as the change in relationships within the environment” (p. 540) It wasn’t until middle school that I began to change my white identifying mindset and began to accept my Mexican cultural …show more content…
(Patton et. al, 2016, p. 108) Entering college, I found myself relating most with the Latino-Integrated orientation as I am comfortable with my identities as an educated white Mexican male. My social identity has been shaped through the constant cultural motivation and support system that I established during my undergraduate and graduate experience. As a first generation college student the experiences that I participated in academic/cultural support programs such as the Puente program at East Los Angeles College. Participating in the Puente program allowed me to further connect with my Mexican cultural roots. As I transferred to UC Berkeley (UCB), conducted my own research with the I3 Inclusion Institute, to finally go to Washington D.C. to intern with the League of United Latin American Citizens, I re-evaluating my social identity. I began to see the many different forms and cultures that encompass the Latina/o identity which re-shape my outlook in viewing my Mexican identity and being a white male in a positive light. My Mexican culture, which encompass all types of skin tone, languages, and culture customs, has become a motivating force of me trying to pave a path that will allow future generations have more opportunities and resources at their disposal than I
For the purposes of this paper, I have chosen to focus on the social identities of white privilege and my Mexican ethnicity in discussing how both have impacted the construction of my social identity. Patton, Evans, Forney, Guido & Quaye (2016) mention in their text “Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice” Ferman and Gallego’s model of Latina/o Ethnoracial identity, which I will use to discuss how my Mexican ethnicity and being white has shaped my social identity.
Latina/o Identity
Ferdman and Gallego’s Model of Latina and Latino Identity is comprise of six orientation which include: White-identified, Undifferented/Denial, Latinos as Other, Subgroup-Identified, Latino-Identified, Latino-Integrated. According …show more content…
(Patton et. al, 2016, p. 107) Through my personal experience I adopted the white racial identity growing up because it was something I could relate physically. Growing up I would be constantly moving and would not have time to maintain long lasting relationships to establish friendships. Television influenced me on the white racial culture of what to speak, customs to follow, and to view those that did not speak English to be inferior. Identifying with the white racial culture was reinforced by classmates and instructors who constantly question my identity when I began to speak Spanish. The White-Identified orientation reminded me of Torres (2003) “cultural dissonance” concept in which he states “ that it is the conflict between one’s own sense of culture & what others expect as well as the change in relationships within the environment” (p. 540) It wasn’t until middle school that I began to change my white identifying mindset and began to accept my Mexican cultural …show more content…
(Patton et. al, 2016, p. 108) Entering college, I found myself relating most with the Latino-Integrated orientation as I am comfortable with my identities as an educated white Mexican male. My social identity has been shaped through the constant cultural motivation and support system that I established during my undergraduate and graduate experience. As a first generation college student the experiences that I participated in academic/cultural support programs such as the Puente program at East Los Angeles College. Participating in the Puente program allowed me to further connect with my Mexican cultural roots. As I transferred to UC Berkeley (UCB), conducted my own research with the I3 Inclusion Institute, to finally go to Washington D.C. to intern with the League of United Latin American Citizens, I re-evaluating my social identity. I began to see the many different forms and cultures that encompass the Latina/o identity which re-shape my outlook in viewing my Mexican identity and being a white male in a positive light. My Mexican culture, which encompass all types of skin tone, languages, and culture customs, has become a motivating force of me trying to pave a path that will allow future generations have more opportunities and resources at their disposal than I