Question #1
Assumptions could include that I am a "Gaymer", intelligent, good at math, have a Tiger mom, know martial arts, play an instrument, am only in it for the sex, have daddy issues, am into partying (e.g., risky sex, drugs and alcohol use) to name a few.
With respect to my identities as a black woman, common representations in popular media include the angry black female, paradoxical caregiver, and hypersexualization. Based on these, I would expect someone meeting me from the first time would assume even if this weren't the case that I would be stand-offish, aggressive, mean, or make assumptions about the kind of care they are entitled to me, and other generalizations about my body, its shape, and how comfortable I am discussing or sharing aspects of my sexuality. As an immigrant, people also hold assumptions about my upbringing and additionally about my attitudes towards the United States (model immigrant, American Dream versus a critical view).
Low SES: lazy, chaotic household, not intelligent, dirty
Queer: kinky / fetishizing, “alternative” in music / clothing / etc interests, token best friend, “predatory” MH dx: “crazy,” dangerous / criminality, not functioning in society, homeless / veteran I want an arranged marriage (lol Indian Matchmaking). As a bi woman, I can't be in a monogamous relationship, or that I'm a horndog.
They may assume that I’m not as physically or mentally capable as men. They may assume that I’m heterosexual and just seeking attention from men. They may assume that I’m lazy, sloppy, and I lack self control.
Most people consider me white passing, which certainly affects how others interact with me. Given this, I don't typically feel any stereotypes or assumptions that are made with regards to any of my identities. I don't typically talk about identities other than race & ethnicity with people I'm meeting for the first time.
Aromantic: I don't think the romantic spectrum is discussed, in either media or anywhere; media assumes everyone experiences romantic attraction and will throw needless romantic & sexual scenes into media, like in action films. So, I think someone might think I'm nuts, because they have probably never considered nor been taught romantic attraction is a spectrum like sexual attraction. Maybe they'd think I was making a joke and laugh at me. I think they'd just be more confused than any other feeling.
Asexual: Similar to aromanticism, asexuality is not often discussed in media, at least not positively, until recently. If someone had seen the 2nd season of "Sex Education," which has a scene where an asexual character tells her therapist she thinks she is broken, but the therapist knows about asexuality and spells it out to her, in a beautiful, moving, and accurate way. On a similar note, I've heard, but not seen, "Bojack Horseman" has Todd, an asexual character, and while not perfect, other aces seem to like the show and how he portrays asexuality. But then there are negative portrayals, like this one episode of "House M.D.," where he "cures" someone's asexuality, which could give someone the wrong idea about asexuality. Similarly, there's 1 line in "Notting Hill," where Hugh Grant is complaining about his non-existent love life, and he refers to it as "in a depressing asexual way," or something like that. Then there's "Riverdale," which decided to erase Jughead's aromantic and asexual identities from the original comics in the tv adaptation, which many aros and / or aces found hurtful. So, either people have some positive ideas about asexuality, or might think negatively or have no clue about asexuality. Also, given the assumption that everyone experiences romantic and sexual attraction, people might be confused or thinking you are joking if you were to tell them you were asexual. And media perpetuates that image by throwing gratuitous romance & sex into tv shows, music, movies, etc. Atheist: I feel media portrays atheists in very negative lights. Either they're like a loner weirdo who winds up being the villain or they are going through some serious stuff and convert to being a believer of a Christian faith. Atheists might be portrayed as evil or without empathy, sometimes confused with goths. Plus, the religion itself has shaped & censored media and art for years, so religion has incentive to promote itself, therefore non-believers look bad. If a stranger knew I was an atheist, they might feel uncomfortable around me, because being a religious believer is drilled into people's heads from a young age. They might feel uncomfortable around me, because they might think I have no scruples or moral code, etc. I guess the one upside is that people know about atheists more than aromantics and asexuals, but that's not saying much. They might think that I was "actually" gay or straight, rather than holding a separate identity. They might also make assumptions about my sex life.
I think I present in most cases as a White cisgender male. If they realized I’m trans then they assume that I completely identify with male or I’m confused about who I am.
I think it depends on the person. Some may wrongly assume that I was not born here in the US. Or they may assume I have an accent. They may assume that I won’t stand up for myself.
That I am white at surface & physical level. Assume stereotypical Muslim references from media when learning my identity.
Someone may expect my interests and behaviors to be over-sexualized; as if romantic and physical intimacy with other men was core and fundamental to my everyday life. They may expect my behavior to be flamboyant, or that my personal activities revolve around sex and sexuality.
That I'm sexually promiscuous, wanting attention, can't pick a side, privileged.
My visible identities presenting as a man who dresses and expresses themselves with masculine features in conjunction with my light skin privilege, I know contributes to my ability to navigate spaces more seamlessly than others who do not hold these identities. At times, I noticed how once I disclose invisible identities including that I am gay, undocumented, and have ADHD, some of the comments I get, though it might be well-intended, tend to come from a place of ignorance or pity that usually are informed through different agents of socialization with media been one of the top ones.
Money-grubbing, weak and submissive, smarmy, cowardly, with large noses. Silly, with odd dress. Generally all Jews in media before a certain point seem to be taken from the Orthodox stereotype, with the hat, tassels, and hair that they traditionally wear. I think that's the worst of the stereotypes I've seen in media, although to be fair I don't tend to seek out media that depicts Jews as such. Also strange from a cultural perspective, with a different set of foods, customs, holidays, etc. that largely correspond to Yiddishkeit, which was the culture of the Eastern European and Russian Jewry that came to America during the twentieth century.
Involved in a gang or mob, involved in fraud, oppressed by the gender norms in my family. Hairy, loud, rude, terrorist. Other times, they say "Armenian? What's that??" OR "Oh! The Kardashians!"
Unless someone asked, they would not know that I was adopted by a white family. Therefore, most people assume that I am a foreigner and perhaps not familiar with White American culture. People see my Korean appearance and believe stereotypes that I am foreign, quiet, studious, and submissive. When I am harassed on the street by strangers, they assume that I am exotic by my Asian appearance. Growing up, I was always concerned that people dated me due to this conceptualization.
Multiracial, Demi & Heterosexual, Demi & Heteroromantic, Secular Humanist, Unmarried, Childless6/16/2020
Someone might assume that I'm black and not any other race because of my physical features. I've experienced microaggressions where people compare me to black women in the media like Kerry Washington or Misty Copeland because they think we "look alike" so perhaps they would assume I'm like their favorite black actress. I'm a young college student on a liberal campus so I think that someone would likely assume I don't belong to a mass organized religion. But I don't know if someone would know what secular humanism is and what they might assume about me based on that knowledge. Non-religious people don't really have a place in the media as far as I've seen.
The we female Latinas are dramatic. That Latin are criminals. That I am an immigrant because I speak Spanish. That we have big families.
That gay men cannot be in long-term, monogamous relationships and form nuclear families.
That because I'm an Atheist, I hate anyone who believes in a higher power, that I think churches and other religious places should not exist, and that I only associate with people who also identify as Atheists. I think they could ask if I had a bad experience with the church and assume something traumatic had to happen for me to identify as Atheist. I think people assume I am bisexual because I haven't found the right man yet. I also think they see bisexual people as experimenting, blaming a time in my life like college as the reason I am with a woman.
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