My identity

Claudia Mendoza

English 1100 3J

Prof. Young

Identity Essay

            Identity makes you, it’s your characteristics, your uniqueness, the perception from others, and it’s WHO YOU ARE. Parts of your identity are elements that you were born with and taught. It is your religion, your age, your social class, your job, your gender, your origin, your race, and your culture. It is what others see once they see you for the first time. Identity IS the distinct characteristics that define you as a unique individual as well as from the perception of others. Gloria Anzaldua, a Chicana lesbian feminist, wrote an article called “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”. It’s an article about her language, which people seem to clean out, but to Anzaldua her language is her identity. To me, my gender is my identity.

            “I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of existing. I will have my voice: Indian, Spanish, white. I will have my serpent’s tongue – my woman’s voice, my sexual voice, my poet’s voice. I will overcome the tradition of silence” (Gloria Anzaldua, How to Tame a Wild Tongue, page 261). Women shouldn’t feel the need to be silent when not spoken to or when trying to express a thought. The quote above is a perfect example of how women shouldn’t be scared to hide their voice, thoughts, and actions. There’s supposed to be equality in the world. Just because I’m a woman doesn’t believe I’m going to aspire to how others think women should be or act. My voice is MY voice and I shall use it how I want to, even if it’s something you won’t like to hear, or things “ladies shouldn’t say”. There are traditions that have an absurd rule that men are the head of the household and whatever they say should be followed. For that reason, men are “supposed” to be head of household and the only ones who work, the only ones who are superior to everyone in the household. Times have changed, but there are some households still following this misogynistic tradition. I’d say things have changed due to how many single mothers there are out in the world working for their family, alone, with no one’s help and still manage to raise their kids right. Women can work too, and they can also be head of household, they’re not weak and they can still manage to take care of the house and raise their kids’ right.

            The thing I hate the most is when people try to make women feel inferior. For me, it’s very riveting when men underestimate women, most of the time they’re proven wrong or if not they at least realize the drive and determination women have. “I just love bossy women, I could be around them all day. To me, bossy is not a pejorative term at all. It means somebody’s passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn’t mind leading” (Amy Poehler). I’m proud to be a woman, I take pride in what I am. I am proud that I can create life inside of me, that my body is durable to allow up to 57 del (unit) of pain. I am proud to have a broad mind that allows me to handle work and family. That’s why gender is everything to me, I look up to my mother and all the women that are strong enough to pull through life without the help of a man. I believe on equality, both my mom and dad, are authoritative figures in my household, but they have the same position and authorization for all of us who live with them.

            Ultimately, my identity is that of gender, that of feminism. I have a sexual side, a responsible side, a side with ambition, intelligent side, a creative side, strong side, and a nurturing side. I, like men, have goals and I’m going to achieve them. I’m not going to hold back from my creative mind just because it might be overrated. I’m a big girl now and I say I’m going to make it to something. I can do whatever I want, whatever my mind aspires to, because I CAN. I know who I am, it’s about time I show it, and how much I’ve grown. I am a feminist, we make our own sense, we believe in the equality of the sexes in all realms. This is why feminist psychology opened broader realms for psychology. My identity is my gender, and how as a woman, I can explore the world and conquer it; and it means EVERYTHING TO ME.