Is it normal for me to have racial dysphoria?

33% Normal
8 Comments

Is it normal to have racial dysphoria?

Some background on me my whole family is Balkan/Mediterranean. People from that area can be fair with blue eyes or more tan with dark features and still be considered "white." My family would describe my own features as dark with dark curly hair and nearly black eyes and skin that that tans easily. However I didn't grow up in that area like my parents I grew in the United States.

I feel like my whole life I just saw myself as a white person. Because my family identified as such. There were little hints that people didn't see me that way. There were all the people who were surprised me and my older sister were related even though we share a lot of facial features but she has light brown straight hair. The people who said "you're European? I thought you were an Arab" or "you're not really a white" "are you Brazilian?" and I guess it just messes me because I was RAISED WHITE. I should also add that growing up a LOT of people also perceived me as white.

When I hit adulthood people were more mature and no one really just flat out told me what they thought my race was. But there were other things that were a little uncomfortable. Like getting followed when shopping or just feeling like most people have a general disregard for my well being. This stuff leaves me confused because if I'm white then I don't need to think about racism but if people don't perceive me as white... what exactly am I dealing with? How do I deal with this? I can't help thinking about interactions where people acted a little too cold towards me and wonder if there was a hatred behind it.

I was recently watching an actors on actors interview where jason mantzoukas was talking about his own experience with his looks. How he wasn't cast for white roles even though he was white... and i don't know it felt familiar.

But I also don't feel comfortable talking about this dysphoria with any of my friends. There's such a weird trend of people race-baiting these days it seems almost inappropriate to talk about. It seems like something people would get mad at me for just expressing it.

Voting Results
33% Normal
Based on 6 votes (2 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 8 )
  • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk
    3 years ago

    how is someone raised white?

    drinkin wine while hittin golf balls off a yacht?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    4
    4
      -
    • LloydAsher
      3 years ago

      Depends on what kind of white. Appalachian and southern whites might have a problem with drinking wine

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • BenGarbaag
        3 years ago

        drinkin moonshine while hitting golf balls off a yacht

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
      • RoseIsabella
        3 years ago

        If you're Irish, and Native American?

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
  • litelander8
    3 years ago

    There’s way too much hype over race. I’m Irish and my people were tormented by the English. So bc we can’t cry over color we weren’t shit on. Fuck all of it. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS IM GOING TO THE STRIP CLUB. (We tip ladies of all colors)

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    2
    2
  • my_life_my_way
    3 years ago

    Identify as whatever you want, I’m white British but have been mistaken for Latina in the past. Most people aren’t as sensitive about race as the typical twitter liberal so it shouldn’t really come up much in daily life.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • LovelyGirl21
    3 years ago

    Speaking as a mixed race person. Most people mistaken me as Mexican/Hispanic. I understand where youre coming from.
    There you stated in the beginning dark curly hair, dark eyes, tan skin than tans easily...
    Well welcome to the world of brown folks. We of course get treated differently in America. We are pretty much used to it.
    My skin is very light in the Winter and if I go out to California I get super dark when I stay out in the Sun. My hair is naturally curly/frizzy, when I straighten my hair with lighter skin I noticed I get treated better lol.
    And it depends WHO you Express this with. Brown people or anyone goes through it WE Understand and don't mind listening it's not a problem. It's unfortunate that brown darker/tan skinned people get treated differently. But, that's the reality we live in. The fact of the matter is keep moving on ignore it, just be yourself. The ones who treat you rudely, just shows who they are as a person.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • RoseIsabella
    3 years ago

    I'm sorry you're having this problem. I looked up that Jason Mantzoukas guy, and yeah he looks Middle Eastern. I dunno, I guess some Mediterranean people look Middle Eastern. Maybe you have some gypsy roots?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0