- 20 Sep 2012 13:25
#14062709
Often I am very confused about 'whiteness' as it is understood by most Westerners. When I was young I was only aware of what is white and what is not when people would mention to me that I am a white or when someone mentioned race. My attachment to this idea was only by coincidence that I have coloured hair and pale skin. Other than this into what group would I go? To me anyone with blonde, red or brown hair with pale skin and a European appearance was a 'white'. As I grew older I saw that there was some debate about certain groups who would not be considered 'white' even if to me they looked like they were. For example some liked to say that Russians are not 'whites'. Also among some typical non-white groups like Turks I could see red heads.
So then what is it to be white? If having a light complexion and blonde, brown or red hair is not enough to be 'white' then what is the qualification? To me it is only a certain phenotype but then there are many problems caused by the Western conception of it.
I think it is better to identify oneself by ethnicity rather than phenotype.
So then what is it to be white? If having a light complexion and blonde, brown or red hair is not enough to be 'white' then what is the qualification? To me it is only a certain phenotype but then there are many problems caused by the Western conception of it.
I think it is better to identify oneself by ethnicity rather than phenotype.