Generality:“Yellow”. 19
Nora Lee Bosseldal | 22 | she/her | nationality: Swedish| ethnicity: Swedish/Chinese, complicated
“Yellow”.
It’s one of my favorite colors as I think it’s fun,fizzy and looks good on
me when I wear it. I also associate it with my skincolor and something
that people think of when they see me or hears thatI am Asian. Not
always true though.
“Asian”.
In the best of worlds it’s something you get to defineyourself. For me
it’s something others often label upon me in situationsI don’t always
define myself as it. Someone who’s Asian is in mydefinition someone
who either grew up in Asia with an Asian culture,someone who is
originally from Asia but moved elsewhere but stillwants to be a part of
the asian culture. For me, you aren’t Asian just becauseyou have Asian
genetics (like myself). I define being Asian is moreabout the culture
than your appearance.
Ethnicity|part1.
Often mislabeled, hard to define.
Ethnicity|part2.
My definition is definitely a response to what peoplelabel me as.
Throughout my youth I was often “mislabeled” as Asian,and if I
explained that I was adopted some would say I’m notSwedish enough.
This has affected how I describe myself and that Imore often than not
feel like I have to tell them that “I was born inChina but I’m adopted so
I have lived in Sweden my whole life” and then theycan craft their own
imagine of me. When I talk to strangers online whocan’t see me I
always say that I was born in China. In my mind otherwise,they will
imagine a white blonde girl and would be disappointedlater on when
they realize I don’t look that way.
Sometimes I want to be Asian and sometimes I justwant to be seen as
Swedish.
Differ from Asian stereotype(s).
In a lot of ways. I’m a tall, tattooed, thicker womanthat likes being tan
and dress lightly. I’m standard smart and my favoritefood is potatoes.
A theoretical space without racism.
I think I would be more free, I wouldn’t think somuch about how
others see me. I don’t think I would have as muchpressure on me to
live up to expectations, or prove people wrong. Iwould be more
comfortable in my skin. Just the thought of not havingto explain my
ethnicity all the time would be a relief.
Tell.
I often feel like I’m not good enough, or that I’mnot enough. When I
was younger I felt this feeling more often than Ido now luckily. I
always wished I would look Swedish and not look Asian,I doubted my
self worth and my beauty. I remember this one guyI asked out when I
mchaos
(mchaos)
#1