Diversity Awareness We all have biases and stereotypes, and becoming aware of them is a crucial step towards minimizing or eliminating those barriers to understanding. I was raised to believe that we were a tolerant family, but in retrospect I can see that my parents had inherited biases and beliefs about other ethnic groups. They in turn passed on those biases and beliefs to me, albeit in an unconscious way. In addition to parental influences, social and peer pressures also led me to internalize stereotypes and beliefs about various ethnic groups. Biases and stereotypes about gender have also influenced my ways of thinking about social norms. Honest self-inquiry related to diversity issues will help me navigate through an incredibly heterogeneous world.

I am an African-American woman, athletic in build but soft at heart. When I was twelve I realized that I was different from my friends. While all my girlfriends were eager to kiss boys, I had no desire to do that. I hid in my homework and especially became active in sports. Although I was strongly aware of being female, and was socialized to conform to my gender identity, I also knew that I was a tomboy. It was acceptable to be a tomboy in my home, because I had older brothers. But as I got older I realized that I had fewer and fewer female friends.

The most crucial aspects of my identity include my ethnicity,...

Throughout high school, sexuality did not mean that much to me. When I entered college I realized that I was gay, and I came out as a lesbian within a few months of starting classes. Joining gay and lesbian student organizations helped me to create a strong personal identity, one that I never had before when I was younger. I am open with others about who I am, and there is little I choose not to share except for my innermost fears. I believe that my deepest fears are what make me vulnerable, which is why I shield those parts of myself.
My perceived identity has changed much since childhood. My parents influenced my identity mostly in my early childhood years. Then, my peers began to be the most formidable influence in my life, followed by my role models in the adult world. Now, my peers are the ones who again influence my identity as I learn what it is like to be a minority in almost every aspect of the word: gay, black, and female.

I went through a critical phase when I was in high school, during which I read a lot of political literature about the struggle of black people in America. From these readings, I shaped a strong identity as an African-American female. Only lately have I realized that the female black experience in America is unique, and I am starting to learn about how African-American women have navigated through…