Well, how about this one? Because I'm actually really interested in what you have to say, man. Seriously, keep reading-- no sarcasm here.
What if I was born white, but growing up felt a deep connection to the cultural experience and identity of black Americans-- so much so, in fact, that I came to feel that I am, indeed, black, despite the color of my skin and my genetic heritage? What if I in fact felt like I should have been born black? And then what if I began to identify myself as such, and eventually even found acceptance as such?
There are hundreds of examples, throughout history, of people becoming a part of a new culturo-racial group that they weren't born into. This isn't a new phenomenon. Stories that come into mind include the assimilation of the odd European-American into some sort of Indigenous tribe (which are abundant if you look for them).
Where does that fall apart, in comparison to using the exact same rationale for re-identification of gender?
Again, see my post above. There is simply an incredibly long history of whites trying to rob black people of their pride, dignity, culture, language, and pride. Despite all odds, black people have continued to maintain their multifaceted community, which gave them strength to still contribute to American society. Now that black people have won the freedom to overtly maintain their culture, mass media has had the negate impact of skewing public perceptions of black culture, often for the worse. The act of non-black people adopting black identities has
very often resulted in stereotyping, and a resulting negative view of black culture and individuality. Think Iggy Azalea, a commonly-cited culprit of what appropriation does for the public perception of black culture.
This is how the comparison falls apart with respect to gender. There simply isn't this level of nuanced conflict with the history of the female or male gender, to the extent where one tried to exterminate the other either overtly or covertly.
I mentioned in another thread a condition experienced by some people in which they feel deeply that they should have been born with only one leg, arm, etc., and want nothing more than to have an amputation in order-- ironically-- to feel "whole". The condition is currently classified as a psych disorder. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but these individuals otherwise have perfect mental/emotional/physical health. Is this more similar to the gender issue or the race issue? How are they all really that different from one another?
I'm unfamiliar with this particular example, so I'd need more context surrounding it.
I'm going to risk sounding really ignorant and say that all of these situations seem very comparable on the surface. Tell me why they're not. My reaction is that contrasting them represents a cultural double standard. We've started down the path of not merely tolerance, but acceptance of an individual's right to self-identify in whatever manner he/she sees fit. From whom or what or whence, then, do we gain the authority to set limits? Gender re-identification is okay, but race re-identification is not... according to whom, exactly? And why?
Looking forward to your comments.
They all do sound similar on the surface-- but that's why it's important to actually listen to the people who feel affected by the issues that we're discussing. And I mean
all the people. I've listened, and sympathized with Rachel's views and desires. She is human. However, I've also listened to why so many black people shudder at the thought of this entire controversy. Their views are incredibly legitimate, and have formed the basis of why I hold the opinion that I do.
Many American citizens are too lazy to dig deeper into the complaints of their fellow citizens. Poor people that can't attain class mobility are cast off as lazy. Homeless people are immediately labelled no-good deadbeats. Black people who complain about feeling like they're treated as second-class citizens are simply ignored, told to 'stop viewing issues in black and white'. and asked to try and ignore race when their skin colour literally impacts every facet of their life.
