As a white, hetero-sexual, male on a college campus, I strive to find a balance: a balance that, on the one hand, acknowledges and accepts these aspects of my identity that are the essence my privilege. On the other hand, this balance also pushes back against the stereotypes that often place me in a narrow box. Instead of succumbing to what society expects from a white, normative man, I strive to challenge those stereotypes by acting as an ally to oppressed minorities.
I will not deny the facets of my identity; rather, I aim to change how people view me as a white, privileged man. I cannot abolish the stereotype or rewrite history, but I can control my actions going forward. I can control whether to use inclusive or exclusive language. I can comment when my friends speak about women, black people, Hispanic people, and Muslim people. I can change how my family members speak about the LGBTQ+ community. I can advocate for the idea that it is acceptable for men to express their emotions. I can explain to my friends why it feels degrading when they playfully call me a pussy. I can choose to get involved on campus. I can decide to donate to grassroots and progressive organizations. I can spread acceptance, empathy, and compassion.
Like Mulan, I will do what I can, given the cards that I was dealt. Mulan, as a film, may have not transformed what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman; it may not have abolished gender stereotypes, but it was a step in the right direction. I, too, hope to take positive and productive steps forward, ultimately working to not only change myself, but to be conscious of the language I use and the people around me.
Moving forward, I aspire to continue to open my mind, to continue to stay educated and educate others, to not judge people based on their physical features, and to proudly represent my identities wherever I go.
Continued
If you’ve gotten this far, give yourself a pat on the back. You did it. Thanks for reading my repurposing. After rounds and rounds of edits, what started as a personal commentary on Disney stereotypes turned into a quest and understanding for identity. After the election, I didn’t quite know what to think. For the first time, I felt the weight of my identities and pictured what I looked like through other people’s eyes. I began to feel guilty, guilty for features that I was born with, for the privilege that I was raised with.
In the end, I realized that I need to both accept my identities and also push back on them. I need to accept my whiteness and my privileges, but also not let them define me. I need to be an advocate for more aware.
It also made me aware of how important these issues are to me. Yes, there is so much I can do just by being more aware, but I also want to get my feet wet; I want to start doing important work on campus. I want to work with people who are different from me. This repurposing gave me a platform to formulate my thoughts and was a springboard for the work that lies ahead.
All in all, this repurposing piece heightened my consciousness, helping me move through life with more intentionality and compassion.