I don't remember when was the first time I heard it, or who was the first person to say it to me, but I remember being young and someone from my family told me I sound "like a white girl." When I was young, I didn't know what that meant, but as I got older I learned. I would hear people say that I acted or dressed like a white girl too. They would say the same thing about some of my friends who were Black and Hispanic.
Recently, I decided to ask my mom what it means to be "like a white girl." She said that it means the way you talk and act. If you talk without an accent or you like certain things that usually aren't for your race. I took this to mean that if I was like a white girl, then I wasn't a Hispanic girl.
Telling a person of color they are "like a white girl" is dangerous because it is telling them they are less like whatever race they are. They start to think that being educated, dressing a certain way, and listening to rock music is something that only white people do. That doing these things makes you less Hispanic or Black. This creates a conflict for the person. They want to find out where they fit, but if they lean too far to one side the other side gets mad.
Growing up, I struggled with my fitting my culture and heritage into my life. I felt the American part of me and the Hispanic part of me fighting to be the dominant one. I eventually found a balance but it was hard.
Saying some does something like a white girl, black girl, or Hispanic girl just adds to those stereotypes. What makes a certain act or interest specific to a certain race? We live in a time where everyone can enjoy everything. You shouldn't be criticized for liking something just because it is unusual to the rest of your race. We should let people listen to their music and shop where they want without judgement.
We need to look at the root of why this phrase is being said. It used to say that people aren't acting like their race, and it is used to tell white girls they are acting stereotypical. We need to stop labeling people and trying to fit them into stereotypes. We offend people subtly and without noticing. We think it is wrong for people to act like they are a minority, but get mad when they act like the majority. I hope to one day see a world where the definition of being Hispanic is not how much Spanish you speak, but simply the fact that it is in your blood. A world where the you are just you.
