This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
PERIOD 2 - "LITTLE BOXES"
Today you read the story "Little Boxes" in class. Please share your thoughts about the story and the class discussion that followed in a reflective post. Make at least one comment about another student's post.
This article was very interesting and i think it is hard to mark a box with just one ethnicity or race becouse of your backround I'm puertorican and i have to mark a box that says hispanic not puertorican they dont really know where i am from if i just mark hispanic they might just think or assume that i am an immigrant when im not but the article was nery interesting i really liked it and this person made his point of view
It never occurred to me that check boxes on forums are stereotypical by forcing people into certain groups, ethnicities, and backgrounds. However, after reading the story I understand Anthony Wright’s point and why he is upset. For people of different ethnic backgrounds it is hard to choose one box over another if you apply to more than one of the boxes. A check box does not allow for any explanation of why you chose that box or any middle ground in between. I agree with his point that by choosing one box instead of the other, you lose that Identity. The question becomes who you really are, because you are forced to into a group of people that you may on the surface fit into, but in reality you are nothing alike. For someone who does not have this conflict, they simply fill out the forms without thinking twice, but for people of different cultures and backgrounds I can see why such a simple task can turn into struggle.
This article was very interesting because it really opened my eyes to seeing that those little boxes really don't help define who you really are. The boxes only provide a very limited number of choices to choose from. I believe it is degrading to people who have to choose a box that doesn't correctly define them. For many people who don't fit into a catagory that one of the boxes define it is very unfair and troublesome. These boxes don't help show who are but rather become a pain to choose if you have a different ethnicity.
The "Little Boxes" article opened my eyes to a completely different view. Prior to reading this article I had not looked into what it meant to check a box. Now I realize that we, as human beings, can't fit into one box. We are much more complex and it is stereotypical to try to place people into one distinct group. Our society sometimes attempts to make things as clear as black and white. The truth is that there is a lot of grey area in many situations. I think this article, by Anthony Wright, helped me understand that people dont fit into one category.
I have never really thought of the little boxes on forums as an identity problem. I always just check the box I feel best describes me. In this article Anthony is displeased by the fact he is asked to fill in those boxes. I do agree with him when he says that these boxes can stereotype people. The people reading the answers you fill out may automatically think something of you that is not true just because you are a certain race or ethnicity. I also think that Anthony should not worry about what other people think of him as much. With that being said I still understand why he is upset with the little boxes.
I never thought much when i had to check boxes representing my ethnicity. Being only of one ethnicity (asian), I would just check the box without thinking. After reading Anthony Wright's article, I realized that for some people of different ethnic backgrounds, it is harder to check just one box, because it limits his/herself to just one identity. This article was very interesting in the fact that it leaves people wondering what their identity really is and what group they fit into. Some people do not necessarily fit into one group of people, which makes them more aware of their uniqueness, and results in them questioning their identity.
I was never a person who did not fit neatly into the little boxes, white. However, unlike most of the other people who have posted I have always been frustrated with the check one. I feel like it is racist to even ask that question. I never answer the question if I don’t have to. I feel that things should not be based on racial background at all but rather based on merit. Like the article claims, that check does not tell us anything. The check can not tell anyone who some is. It is to me racial background is not useful information; it should have no sway at all, because as the author pointed out, it reveals almost nothing about the person.
I think that this was a very interesting and important article. I understand why some people might have a hard time choosing which box to check off because they could feel like none of the options really represent them. I fill in the Caucasian box, but when people ask me who or what I am, Caucasian isn’t what comes to my mind. I think that the generalizations that the boxes make can be frustrating and even offensive to some people, and I understand why.
The article "Little Boxes" made me to realize how small boxes can affect people. I did not have such problem checking into those boxes since I am 100% asian. But this article made me to think about how difficult it is loosing the identity of who you are. This classification problem of who you are build a boundary between people in the society. It is important sometimes people have to think in individual, not identifying what they are between the groups. It is hard subject to solve this kind of problem. For black and white, Hispanic and Asian, and cultures.
The article "Little Boxes" was an eye opening article because it showed a different perspective on checking off boxes on applications and things. I've honestly never thought twice about it but reading this article has made me think about the generalizations people make and how it must feel for some people to categorize themselves. I believe part of the message Anthony's trying to relay is that you cannot categorize your identity and especially not by checking off a box.
Brian, I agree with your point that question becomes who you really are. I also agree with the point that it can feel like losing an identity if you choose one box over another. These are key points to Anthony's story because he has a struggle to figure out which identity he belongs to and how to categorize himself.
I understand the annoyance with those little boxes as well. To me, whenever I am forced to with things such as college applications I almost want to write in the box for other "who cares" or "human". I've never liked that my being Hispanic would have an effect on me being accepted somewhere or not. Also simply reducing my heritage to just Hispanic is annoying as well
@ Brian, it's always hard to choose just ONE race for myself because I look like I am white, but I have a very large Hispanic background. My mom is domnican and I've grown up on those food and culture my whole life.
I believe that the article "Little Boxes" portrays a very strong idea on how some people feel descrimitated against by simply checking off a box that defines themselves as a race and ethnicity. For some people, alike the girl in the article have complex backgrounds that cannot neccessarily be described by one word. Instead, she felt as if she'd lose part of her identity if she chose one of her backgrounds over another. This also has to do with how people are manipulated by society to be what they are thought out to be, instead of being true to themselves. I think that in today's society kids grow up in very influenced communities that can effect their personalities and alter their character. The author makes his point very clear on why he feels this way and helped me understand why people feel offended when having to check off a box to describe their backgrounds.
I found this article very interesting because I never thought much of the little boxes on forums to be a problem. That's probably because of my ethnicity, (white.) I would have to side with the author that by selecting a certain box, means that in other people's opoinon, you carry the sterotypes of that ethnicity. I liked this article because it awakens me to the problem with people's identity.
The article, "Little Boxes" really opened my eyes to how differently people can view something versus another person. I never thought checking the boxes on a test or form could be viewed as stereotypical. I like Anthony Wright’s way of thinking and now realizing what these boxes can mean, I agree with him. It’s not right to place people into a certain category and judge them because of what they look like. People are way more than just what the check in a box says.
I agree with you. I don't like how colleges accept one person versus another because they have a background to widen their diversity. It's an unfair way of accepting or rejecting someone.
You bring up a great point that even if fit a specific box; it does not mean that this is the best way to describe you. Someone reading information about you based on check boxes only has a general idea of who you really are. Often the way we perceive people is based on their looks or background. More times then not this perception is wrong, yet people still continue to base their opinions on stereotypes.
I believe that nothing is wrong with having to give somebody a basic picture of yourself. These generalizations can be useful to categorize one's self. I understand the struggle presented in the article in showing one's ethnic roots, but I think that if your that concerned about it, just check off the "other" box. This way, you can describe how you really are, and avoid this problem entirely.
I understand why Wright struggles to classify himself as a single race. However, he needs to realize that just because his identity does not fit on a form does not mean he doesn't have a clear identity. I understand that it's hard, but I think that Anthony would have a stronger sense of identity if he developed his identity through his own beliefs rather than how other people view him.
I feel like Nate has a good view of the whole situation. I don't think how you classify yourself on a form should be too strenuous of a situation. I think the "other" box is a legitimate way to dodge classifying yourself with one ethnic group if you have moral problems doing so.
I think that “Little Boxes” was an interesting article because it brought up questions of identity in a way that is relatable to high school seniors: through college applications. Anthony Wright describes his dilemma in the article; basically he doesn’t know which ethnicity boxes to check because he’s unsure of how he can accurately describe himself to others. At first when I read the article I though that he was unsure of his own identity, but after discussing it for a second time I realized that Wright is fully aware of himself, he just doesn’t want to categorize himself with subjective terms. Megan: I completely agree with your point about how society generally wants things to be very obvious, but in actuality there is a lot of gray area, especially when talking about classifying people into categories.
From me checking a box on a test has always been so simple. I never realized that for a lot of people that it can be a dilemma. I have always known that my ethnicity is Italian and Irish. I know my identity, but after reading the story i have realized why some people can get upset over this. It is very difficult to choose one box if you apply to many. A box does not describe or tell someone who you are, which is the hard part. I think that this article was very informative and gave me insight on others struggles.
I completely agree with your comment. A lot of the time people do not know why they have to just check one box when they apply to many. They may know who they are, but it is difficult for them to identify themselves to others. I think that that was a great observation.
I agree with the author that by defining who you are simply by checking some boxes that "best describe you", you are leaving out many unique characteristics that make you who you are. While it makes it easier to associate individuals with stereotypes, some people in those groups really stand out from the regular stereotype.
Previous to reading this article, I never really questioned checking off the boxes that were required when taking any standardized tests. I just simply did what the instructions asked and placed a check mark next to the the background that best fit me. But after reading this article, I have realized that it is unfair for someone to have to limit their background/ethnicities to one category. How can someone really understand who a person is based on what box they check off? It causes people to question who they are and worry about what other people will think of them if they check off a certain box. what does it really matter if someone is caucasion or African American? we are all human and no one deserves to be stereo-typed.
I really enjoyed reading “Little Boxes”. These boxes have often bothered me. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian or other, I mean, really! First off- why should it even matter? Secondly, these aren’t ethnicities, they are generalizations. In the box system, I am “white”. But I am more than that, I’m Irish. And the culture that I grew up with is entirely different than a German, or Norwegian, or any other “white” person. I really feel for the author in this, he, just like everyone else, is a complex being who cannot be watered down into check marks in boxes.
Jillian, I agree with you. A persons heritage should not be a deciding factor on whether or not they are accepted somewhere. It is completely annoying.
28 comments:
This article was very interesting and i think it is hard to mark a box with just one ethnicity or race becouse of your backround I'm puertorican and i have to mark a box that says hispanic not puertorican they dont really know where i am from if i just mark hispanic they might just think or assume that i am an immigrant when im not but the article was nery interesting i really liked it and this person made his point of view
It never occurred to me that check boxes on forums are stereotypical by forcing people into certain groups, ethnicities, and backgrounds. However, after reading the story I understand Anthony Wright’s point and why he is upset. For people of different ethnic backgrounds it is hard to choose one box over another if you apply to more than one of the boxes. A check box does not allow for any explanation of why you chose that box or any middle ground in between. I agree with his point that by choosing one box instead of the other, you lose that Identity. The question becomes who you really are, because you are forced to into a group of people that you may on the surface fit into, but in reality you are nothing alike. For someone who does not have this conflict, they simply fill out the forms without thinking twice, but for people of different cultures and backgrounds I can see why such a simple task can turn into struggle.
This article was very interesting because it really opened my eyes to seeing that those little boxes really don't help define who you really are. The boxes only provide a very limited number of choices to choose from. I believe it is degrading to people who have to choose a box that doesn't correctly define them. For many people who don't fit into a catagory that one of the boxes define it is very unfair and troublesome. These boxes don't help show who are but rather become a pain to choose if you have a different ethnicity.
The "Little Boxes" article opened my eyes to a completely different view. Prior to reading this article I had not looked into what it meant to check a box. Now I realize that we, as human beings, can't fit into one box. We are much more complex and it is stereotypical to try to place people into one distinct group. Our society sometimes attempts to make things as clear as black and white. The truth is that there is a lot of grey area in many situations. I think this article, by Anthony Wright, helped me understand that people dont fit into one category.
I have never really thought of the little boxes on forums as an identity problem. I always just check the box I feel best describes me. In this article Anthony is displeased by the fact he is asked to fill in those boxes. I do agree with him when he says that these boxes can stereotype people. The people reading the answers you fill out may automatically think something of you that is not true just because you are a certain race or ethnicity. I also think that Anthony should not worry about what other people think of him as much. With that being said I still understand why he is upset with the little boxes.
I never thought much when i had to check boxes representing my ethnicity. Being only of one ethnicity (asian), I would just check the box without thinking. After reading Anthony Wright's article, I realized that for some people of different ethnic backgrounds, it is harder to check just one box, because it limits his/herself to just one identity. This article was very interesting in the fact that it leaves people wondering what their identity really is and what group they fit into. Some people do not necessarily fit into one group of people, which makes them more aware of their uniqueness, and results in them questioning their identity.
I was never a person who did not fit neatly into the little boxes, white. However, unlike most of the other people who have posted I have always been frustrated with the check one. I feel like it is racist to even ask that question. I never answer the question if I don’t have to. I feel that things should not be based on racial background at all but rather based on merit. Like the article claims, that check does not tell us anything. The check can not tell anyone who some is. It is to me racial background is not useful information; it should have no sway at all, because as the author pointed out, it reveals almost nothing about the person.
I think that this was a very interesting and important article. I understand why some people might have a hard time choosing which box to check off because they could feel like none of the options really represent them. I fill in the Caucasian box, but when people ask me who or what I am, Caucasian isn’t what comes to my mind. I think that the generalizations that the boxes make can be frustrating and even offensive to some people, and I understand why.
The article "Little Boxes" made me to realize how small boxes can affect people. I did not have such problem checking into those boxes since I am 100% asian. But this article made me to think about how difficult it is loosing the identity of who you are. This classification problem of who you are build a boundary between people in the society. It is important sometimes people have to think in individual, not identifying what they are between the groups. It is hard subject to solve this kind of problem. For black and white, Hispanic and Asian, and cultures.
The article "Little Boxes" was an eye opening article because it showed a different perspective on checking off boxes on applications and things. I've honestly never thought twice about it but reading this article has made me think about the generalizations people make and how it must feel for some people to categorize themselves. I believe part of the message Anthony's trying to relay is that you cannot categorize your identity and especially not by checking off a box.
Brian, I agree with your point that question becomes who you really are. I also agree with the point that it can feel like losing an identity if you choose one box over another. These are key points to Anthony's story because he has a struggle to figure out which identity he belongs to and how to categorize himself.
I understand the annoyance with those little boxes as well. To me, whenever I am forced to with things such as college applications I almost want to write in the box for other "who cares" or "human". I've never liked that my being Hispanic would have an effect on me being accepted somewhere or not. Also simply reducing my heritage to just Hispanic is annoying as well
@ Brian, it's always hard to choose just ONE race for myself because I look like I am white, but I have a very large Hispanic background. My mom is domnican and I've grown up on those food and culture my whole life.
I believe that the article "Little Boxes" portrays a very strong idea on how some people feel descrimitated against by simply checking off a box that defines themselves as a race and ethnicity. For some people, alike the girl in the article have complex backgrounds that cannot neccessarily be described by one word. Instead, she felt as if she'd lose part of her identity if she chose one of her backgrounds over another. This also has to do with how people are manipulated by society to be what they are thought out to be, instead of being true to themselves. I think that in today's society kids grow up in very influenced communities that can effect their personalities and alter their character. The author makes his point very clear on why he feels this way and helped me understand why people feel offended when having to check off a box to describe their backgrounds.
I found this article very interesting because I never thought much of the little boxes on forums to be a problem. That's probably because of my ethnicity, (white.) I would have to side with the author that by selecting a certain box, means that in other people's opoinon, you carry the sterotypes of that ethnicity. I liked this article because it awakens me to the problem with people's identity.
The article, "Little Boxes" really opened my eyes to how differently people can view something versus another person. I never thought checking the boxes on a test or form could be viewed as stereotypical. I like Anthony Wright’s way of thinking and now realizing what these boxes can mean, I agree with him. It’s not right to place people into a certain category and judge them because of what they look like. People are way more than just what the check in a box says.
Julian,
I agree with you. I don't like how colleges accept one person versus another because they have a background to widen their diversity. It's an unfair way of accepting or rejecting someone.
Molly,
You bring up a great point that even if fit a specific box; it does not mean that this is the best way to describe you. Someone reading information about you based on check boxes only has a general idea of who you really are. Often the way we perceive people is based on their looks or background. More times then not this perception is wrong, yet people still continue to base their opinions on stereotypes.
I believe that nothing is wrong with having to give somebody a basic picture of yourself. These generalizations can be useful to categorize one's self. I understand the struggle presented in the article in showing one's ethnic roots, but I think that if your that concerned about it, just check off the "other" box. This way, you can describe how you really are, and avoid this problem entirely.
I understand why Wright struggles to classify himself as a single race. However, he needs to realize that just because his identity does not fit on a form does not mean he doesn't have a clear identity. I understand that it's hard, but I think that Anthony would have a stronger sense of identity if he developed his identity through his own beliefs rather than how other people view him.
I feel like Nate has a good view of the whole situation. I don't think how you classify yourself on a form should be too strenuous of a situation. I think the "other" box is a legitimate way to dodge classifying yourself with one ethnic group if you have moral problems doing so.
I think that “Little Boxes” was an interesting article because it brought up questions of identity in a way that is relatable to high school seniors: through college applications. Anthony Wright describes his dilemma in the article; basically he doesn’t know which ethnicity boxes to check because he’s unsure of how he can accurately describe himself to others. At first when I read the article I though that he was unsure of his own identity, but after discussing it for a second time I realized that Wright is fully aware of himself, he just doesn’t want to categorize himself with subjective terms. Megan: I completely agree with your point about how society generally wants things to be very obvious, but in actuality there is a lot of gray area, especially when talking about classifying people into categories.
From me checking a box on a test has always been so simple. I never realized that for a lot of people that it can be a dilemma. I have always known that my ethnicity is Italian and Irish. I know my identity, but after reading the story i have realized why some people can get upset over this. It is very difficult to choose one box if you apply to many. A box does not describe or tell someone who you are, which is the hard part. I think that this article was very informative and gave me insight on others struggles.
Dear Kristen,
I completely agree with your comment. A lot of the time people do not know why they have to just check one box when they apply to many. They may know who they are, but it is difficult for them to identify themselves to others. I think that that was a great observation.
I agree with the author that by defining who you are simply by checking some boxes that "best describe you", you are leaving out many unique characteristics that make you who you are. While it makes it easier to associate individuals with stereotypes, some people in those groups really stand out from the regular stereotype.
Previous to reading this article, I never really questioned checking off the boxes that were required when taking any standardized tests. I just simply did what the instructions asked and placed a check mark next to the the background that best fit me. But after reading this article, I have realized that it is unfair for someone to have to limit their background/ethnicities to one category. How can someone really understand who a person is based on what box they check off? It causes people to question who they are and worry about what other people will think of them if they check off a certain box. what does it really matter if someone is caucasion or African American? we are all human and no one deserves to be stereo-typed.
I really enjoyed reading “Little Boxes”. These boxes have often bothered me. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian or other, I mean, really! First off- why should it even matter? Secondly, these aren’t ethnicities, they are generalizations. In the box system, I am “white”. But I am more than that, I’m Irish. And the culture that I grew up with is entirely different than a German, or Norwegian, or any other “white” person. I really feel for the author in this, he, just like everyone else, is a complex being who cannot be watered down into check marks in boxes.
Jillian, I agree with you. A persons heritage should not be a deciding factor on whether or not they are accepted somewhere. It is completely annoying.
Devin McCarthy was absent this day
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