Stereotypes...they're not cool.

WHY TALK ABOUT IT?
In this post I would like to cover the stereotypes that most hispanic or latina women have to deal with. The reason I'm writing about this is because it is very frustrating that my own ethnicity is in question just because I "don't look like a hispanic." People say this about me because I'm skinny and my hair isn't as unmanageable and because I'm of lighter complexion. It's quite offensive because not only was I born there, but I take a lot of pride in who I am and where I'm from. Yes of course every ethnicity has a certain culture and may have certain characteristics, but this should not define who the person is. You'd be surprised that not all hispanic women have curly or nappy hair, not all of us have curvaceous bodies, and most importantly, not all of us have a lifelong goal of either being a stay at home mom with six kids or working as a maid in rich people's houses. Of course, this does not mean that having those occupations is in any way demeaning or unfortunate, but it's a stereotype that hispanic women face all the time.

STORYTIMEEEEE!
In my junior year of high school, I had to take a financial literacy class. In the first class, the teacher asked us to go around the room and introduce ourselves and give some information on who we are and what we would like to do in the future. I went to a predominantly white school, so of course her hearing that my last name was Rodriguez was SOOO shocking. When I said my name and that I was from the Dominican Republic, she immediately interrupted me and said, "Oh wow! So how did you and your family get here?" This was obviously implying that she assumed that we were not U.S. born, which she wasn't wrong about. So, I told her that my all my family, including myself, were born in our country, but we all came to the U.S. later on. She looked so flabbergasted it was honestly disgusting.
I continued by saying what I wanted to be when I grow up, which is a Forensic Scientist, and she almost fell out of her seat. She made a very judgmental comment by saying, "Oh so you're really trying to be the first successful member of your family aren't you?!" Bro. Let me not start. I calmly retorted back by saying, "Well actually, my grandparents, although not educated, which you probably already assumed about them, were pretty successful because one is a chef and the others owned some successful businesses. My dad is in fact not a janitor. He is a dentist. My mom is a psychologist and also is an English major, so she's not a main or a stay at home mom. My aunts and uncles are all pretty much doctors of some sort. My cousin is a neurologist and is also in the process of studying to be a cardiologist. Would you like me to keep going?" I pretty much shut her up and she said no and moved on to the next student.

SO, WHAT'S THE POINT?
My intentions weren't to be rude, but it comes to a point where you notice how ignorant people really are. This is including myself as well, which is why I'm even more determined to put this message out there, because I know how it feels to be judged and to have people assume things about you and your family just because of your last name and your birth country.