How does being a minority affect your life?

Question

finding work, relationships, friendships, social life, etc

Answer 1

I have Asperger's Syndrome, a form of high functioning autism, (HFA) and people with HFA consider themselves a cultural minority, like Deaf people, rather than "sick" people in need of a "cure".

As an Aspie, I have many situations in common with other minorities. The dominant culture seems foreign to me. It's hard to find work because the entire hiring and retention process is geared toward neurotypical folks, the dominant culture. Friendships and relationships are very difficult because I'm faceblind and the usual social interactions don't come natrually to me. Instead, I must follow social interactions like the formal rules of a game. I also have much less need for social interaction than neurotypical folks seem to; it's been said that an Aspie needs friends like a fish needs a bicycle. This is not quite true but it's a good image.

In addition, I have some PTSD issues (post traumatic stress disorder) because my father, also an Aspie, had a very bad temper and was often violent and sometimes sexually inappropriate. Getting treatment for this PTSD has been very difficult because therapists expect me to feel and behave like neurotypical folks.

Understanding Asperger's Syndrome and what it means has helped me to understand myself and my relation to humanity, which at times seems like a foreign species. Also helped me to forgive my father and make peace with my life.

A while back I came to realise that whatever our situation may be, we can either be a positive influence on life, or a negative influence. Although I'm not Jewish, I like and relate to the Jewish idea that humans are here to bring Creation to perfection and make it a fit place for God to manifest. This has a different meaning for me than to a Jew, because I am a panthiest, that is, I believe that God is the energy and consciousness which pervades the Universe. It is up to us, as humans with highly complex consciousness, to bring this into full awareness. So rather than take an adversarial relationship to the dominant society, as many minority folks do, I do all that I can to make positive choices so that we all can attain the purity of heart that is required to see God.

Answer 2

Being a minority and female has affected my life in the workplace. Although I have had career success, my success took longer to achieve than most of my non-minority women colleagues (many less skilled/less educated), I believe that is attributed to employers preferences to hire people who are more like themselves. I also feel like I constantly have to work harder to prove that I am productive and I truly deserve my position.

Relationships (dating) have not been as hard as I expected, prospective dates have been abundant, but finding the right person has been more of a challenge because lots of men do not have the "criteria" I am looking for.

Living in a major city provides a great opportunity to get to meet people and have a great time socializing. There are plenty of things for people of all races to get involved in.

Other than that being a minority is not that big of a deal until I travel to rural areas or closed communities where people I sometimes have to educate ignorant people about who I am instead of what I am.

Answer 3

On the negative side, I'm always aware of the fact that I have to be above average in order to be considered "average." I can't just be a teacher, I have to be a bilingual teacher, with a master's degree in order to be considered equal to the "majority" teacher with just a bachelor's degree. I'm always aware of the fact that every move that I make in public is representative of my ethnic group as a whole, and the public's perception of my ethnic group.

On the positive side, socially, I feel a camaraderie with complete strangers. When I walk into a room, scan it, and see someone who looks like me, and we make eye contact, with that little "nod" that we give, I know that there is someone in the room who has my back. As far as friendships, I have tried and true friends, people that I know that understand me and will always be there for me, and I for them. I can be myself, talk in a manner comfortable for me, and not feel judged for doing it.

As far as family, culturally, my immediate family consists of my parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and first cousins, so, I'm richly blessed. There is never an outside agency that I have to go to for my necesities, for all I must do is call a relative, and it will be provided for me. I am also expected to do the same for my relatives, and I do. I am in line to inherit 3 second cousins if anything ever happens to their parents, and I am proud of this. My family is my rock.

Answer 4

Hmm...I grew up in an all white neighborhood, so my insight might be vaguely different than others but here is what I've noticed:
Work: Nothing really since I "assimilate," although I've been the scapegoat once in a while
Relationships: I wasn't allowed to date growing up, but in college, it's hard to find someone I'm attracted to as I'm very picky, but I do enjoy that guys from every race hit on me often, although I'm generally skeptical since I don't want to just be an experience
Friendships: It's hard fitting in when you don't look like the other girls, but I find either people tend to kiss my *** or they are rude/ignore
Social life: I'm lucky I found other cool *** people from all races that I can relate to since they grew up similarly

I don't know if this is surprising...but I have the most trouble with those in my own race accepting me since I don't behave/dress/act like them. This is fine because I don't generally like them myself.

Answer 5

being the only girl in the family (beside my mother and a few aunts) I get treated alittle differently. I am expected by my aunts and mothers to get a job be independant and not depend on no man. by my father, brothers and cousins i am expected to take care of them, clean and cook

Answer 6

That is a good question - It is kinda tough for us white people lately. It never use to be this hard but a little struggle builds character. I would rather struggle a little than cry about it and expect others to give hand outs just because i am a minority. All in all things are pretty good though.

Answer 7

ii know alot of black people, so i have no problem with relationships and friends.

i'm a child so naturally, i am unemployed. maybe things will be better when i am old enough to apply myself for a job. i am a very bright kid , so if i am rejected from a job, it might be because i am african.