Essay of personal portrait

Reflective Essay on Identity: Gender, Race, and Sexuality Student Name Institution Professor Name Course Date Reflective Essay on Identity: Gender, Race, and Sexuality I am a 22-year-old Chinese female college student, and I like male sexual partners. My life as a student is a voyage of discovery and learning, trying to understand the challenges of college and being proud of my culture. Based on the class readings and personal observations, this essay discusses how gender, race, and sexuality influence personal identity. It will examine the internal subjective experience and external social perception and use the concepts from the feminist and gender theories. Mirror Exercise: Self-Observation I sat in front of a mirror and stared at my reflection for five minutes, focusing on every part of my body. I had long, straight black hair, and my face was oval-shaped with high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, and a delicate jawline. I witnessed a young woman who is Chinese by origin but has been brought up in a diverse university setting. I was proud of my culture, but at the same time, I was conscious of the stereotype that Asian women are submissive. Gender, Race, and Sexuality When looking at myself in the mirror, I saw my gender, race, and sexuality as a combination of different aspects. Lorber (1994) argues, “Gender is constantly created and re-created out of human interaction, out of social life, and is the texture and order of that social life” (54). My gender is female, and this is not just a physical attribute but a role that is defined by culture. The role of my gender is connected with the Chinese culture and the feminism I experience in the academic environment.  My race, Chinese, has its cultural connotations and social meanings. Hooks (2000) also talks about how race and gender combine to make the experiences of women of color different from those of other women stating that “the utopian vision of sisterhood evoked in a feminist movement that initially did not take racial difference or anti-racist struggle seriously did not capture the imagination of most black women/women of colour” (56). Likewise, my Chinese woman identity means that I must be aware of how race and culture play out in my life and the world.  Sexuality is another aspect of the identity. As for me, I am a heterosexual, but I am tolerant of people with other orientations because I think that sexual orientation is not a rigid concept and it is unique to each person. Kessler (1990) argues that “…clear gender assignment and correctly formed genitals will determine the kind of interaction the parents will have with their children” (44). This perspective makes me embrace the idea of sexual fluidity as opposed to the dichotomy of male and female. Artistic Self-Portrait This portrait depicts an actual and contemplative phase in my life, which represents the fusion of my ethnicity and individuality. The bouquet I hold symbolizes the beauty and the richness of the path I have been through. Every flower represents a part of me: my Chinese heritage, my university life, and everything in between. The flowers in the bouquet are white, pink and purple; the white symbolizes purity and growth, and the pink and purple symbolize creativity. The flowers are blue and conspicuous, and such a color is associated with personality and power. All these colors are me and all the aspects of my character and life.  In the picture, the facial expression is neutral and thoughtful due to the newly found self-acceptance. The photograph is taken in a serene setting with natural light, creating a sense of introspection. This portrait does not only mean the presentation of how I l...