Who am I? I found it difficult to ask myself such a simple question as most young adults are unsure of how to identify themselves. Clearly, I am an eighteen year old female, but that is merely the surface of who I am. While some aspects of my identity are represented in the media, others are not. Significant aspects of my identity are misplaced in media. I find it difficult to assess whether or not I feel represented as an individual in media and news because I have found my identity is unique from others.
To most people, I appear to be fully white; however that is not my ethnicity, I am also half Cuban. My father moved to the United States from Cuba when he was very young, was a first generation college student, and worked very hard to be where he is today. I am very proud of my ethnicity and it shapes my identity. When I tell others that I am Cuban it comes as a shock to them because I “don’t look Cuban enough.” It is frustrating when such an important aspect of my identity is disregarded or questioned because I don’t fit the cookie cutter mold that people expect. This cookie cutter mold is shaped and cultivated by the limited representation of Cuban people in news and media.
I am half white and that part of me is always represented in the media. I am also half Cuban but that part of my identity is rarely represented in the media. How do I decide whether I feel represented or not when half of my identity is always represented and the other half is not? As I grapple with how to answer this question, I have thought about whether I identify more as white or Cuban. I can not reach a conclusion because I shouldn’t have to choose just one part of my identity. I am uniquely me and should never need to decide between the different parts of my background. I do recognize that the white part of my background has always been more represented in American media. I also recognize that there is not enough representation of my Cuban background. I am proud of my identity as a woman who is both white and Cuban, I will never see one part of my background as more important because both make me the person I am today.
The juxtaposition of my identity was reflected in a Los Angeles Times article by Tre’vell Anderson. According to Anderson, “White women gained some ground in film criticism… But other marginalized groups — particularly men and women of color — struggled to gain any access.” I feel torn because most people see me as a white woman, which grants me more opportunities; however I am proud to be Cuban and want to represent women of color. Society categorizes people and does not give us an opportunity to explain who we truly are or what makes up our identity. As someone who is white and Cuban, I don’t ever want to be categorized as one or the other. My race and ethnicity make me who I am and give me a unique perspective that I want to express. My identity is partly represented in media and news, so it is hard to find authentic representations of my entire identity. Media and news should consult more diverse perspectives from people of color. All people should be given a voice and have representation in media and news.
The other part of my identity, which is very important to me, is that I am a woman. As a woman studying journalism, I have noticed that the majority of journalists and editors are men. I don’t feel that enough women are represented or recognized as journalists, despite the fact that so many women pursue an education in journalism and have the same credentials as men. I aspire to be a journalist and hope that one day more women will be appreciated for their unique perspectives in journalism. There needs to be more female representation and perspectives in the newsroom. The women who are currently recognized in the newsroom are very authentic and I feel as though I can identify with those women. The future is female and I aspire to be a part of that future in the newsroom.
life in la la land 