Guidelines - "So What Are You?" part 2

How Can Mixed Folks Respond to the Question: "So What Are You?"

Hi mixed race and mixed ethnicity friends!  Let's continue our discussion on how mixed folks can respond to the somtimes hurtful question "So what are you?"  Below are a few methods you could use when dealing with this issue.

Guidelines - "So What Are You?" part 1

Dealing With the Question: "So What Are You?"

It is time, my mixed friends, to tackle the dreaded question, "So what are you?"  Let Jared Padalecki's face convey your feelings.

As a multiracial, multiethnic, blended, mixed teen, college student or otherwise young person, I'm sure you've been asked this question before.

Maybe an acquaintance heard you refer to yourself as latino then later as asian and calls you on it.  Maybe someone's been sneaking glances at you and finally owns up to it, saying that they can't figure out what race and/or ethnicity you look like.  Whatever the lead in might be, the conclusion's often the same: "Wait, so what are you anyway?"

Similar to the “I don’t find ________s attractive” post (found here), we’ll discuss the ways: 1) how “so what are you?” can be hurtful to mixed folks, and 2) how you, someone who identifies as mixed, can respond in a series of two posts.  In this first post, we’ll look at why asking such a question can come across as hurtful to mixed folks.  Ready, go!

 

What Makes “So what are you?” Hurtful?