This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Monday, February 6, 2012
PERIOD 1 - 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. Mr. Gallagher
57 comments:
Lyndsie Graham
said...
I found it hard to identify with the "Little Boxes" article because I feel like it made a big deal out of nothing. I don't think its too much trouble to just check the box labeled "other" since it is set out as an option. It's great to be an individual but it's also nice to feel like you have a connection with other people you may have things in common with. The majority of the time, people don't make groups and generalizations with the intent of offending anybody, they're just trying to simplify our complex society.
I couldn't particularly relate to the "Little Boxes" so it was hard to connect with the reading. I have never really thought of this issue before now because I particularly didn't really see it as a problem. But I do see where Anthony is coming from. With people with several ethnic backgrounds, it must be hard for them to classify with one group. And I see where that can cause them to question their identity. But if they are confident with who they are as a person, ethnically, culturally etc., then checking off the "other" box should not be a problem.
I agree with Lyndsie when she mentions that "it's also nice to feel like you have a connection with other people you may have things in common with". I think that is where the problem lies. Because individuals who can't easily classify themselves in one specific group (that is printed on a piece of paper), find it hard for them to know who they are. But those individuals should know that filling out the little boxes does not define who you are. YOU define who you are.
I felt it was difficult for me to relate to the "Little Boxes" article mainly because my ancestry isn't a very racially complex one. Everyone related to me is Italian and Christian. We're not super religious its just something we all have in common. So this makes it difficult for me to try to understand fitting myself into multiple different boxes when checking off Italian fits me perfectly.
I understand Anthony Wright's distress in having to choose one ethnicity, religion or social class when none apply. If you aren't poor, why would you want to classified as such? Many times the boxes are set up in a way that when you read the box title, stereotypes pop in your head. When I hear the word Asian I don't think of someone who is from Russia or Turkey but both countries are in Asia. The box words have become loaded and I can see why Anthony would hesitate to pick just one. However, when you select a box you only change how the reader(s) see you. When you fill out the boxes they don't change your identity. You determine yourself no matter what a piece of paper says.
I also agree with Lyndsie that having a box for "other" certainly helps. Anthony's case is unusual and there can't be a box for "Ecuadorean mother but Asian father with English and Irish roots." "Other" should always be an option because there are almost always exceptions. The original options are there because if everyone checked "other," the boxes would serve no purpose at all. As the boxes do serve a purpose and a very large majority of the world's population is not "other," the boxes are helpful and should remain present.
It was hard for me to relate to the specific story, but I can see why for some people it might be hard to express who they are by just checking one box if they are multiple ethnicity's. I understand why people would get offended by being generalized or grouped by stereotypes.
I agree with Lyndsie that not a lot of people group or generalize to offend someone, it is just human nature. I also agree that the other box gives a person a chance to show they are not just one ethnicity or one specific group.
I agree with Lyndsie that not a lot of people group or generalize to offend someone, it is just human nature. I also agree that the other box gives a person a chance to show they are not just one ethnicity or one specific group.
I found the writing a bit hard to identify with. It seems as if Wright is trying to figure out his own identity by labeling himself into a group, which to me appears contradictory. It also was strange that he makes himself out to be a victim of the system, when nothing has happened to him from either checking or not checking a particular box. And I feel like since there is a box for other, and he can write in exactly his identity, I don't see what there is to complain about. I understand the idea of not wanting to be stereotyped for belonging to a certain group, but Wright seems like he wants to be able to identify with a group while at the same time putting out the idea that he has no desire to be grouped or generalized at all.
I could actually fully agree with “Little Boxes” because I am Irish, and Portuguese. I look totally white but I am fluent in Spanish which takes other Latinos off guard. They don’t expect me to be able to speak Spanish. I actually just applied for work at Stop and Shop, There wasn’t a box for White/Latino. I lived in El Salvador for 2 years and a lot of kids would treat me like some “Gringo” but eventually I took my place in the school. It seems to be a trend to say all Latinos are Mexican, which is a very ignorant thing to say. Many countries in Latin America have extremely different cultures, and ways of speaking. A Cuban will not speak Spanish like an Argentinean. It’s hard growing up not knowing what “Group” you should identify with, but eventually you should find out nobody is the same and you will find people that will accept you for what you are.
I agree with Lyndsie's idea that it made a big deal out of nothing, and that the kinds of labels he's talking about in "Little Boxes" are not really offensive. I also really like Krystle's ideas and wordplay of "YOU" defining who you are, not the boxes.
One final thought: The last line of the writing seemed a little over-dramatic to me.
David brings up a good point.It can get quite stressful because other people identify you with these labels.It's not up to some piece of paper to identify yourself. It's up to YOU.
I felt like the kid made a big deal out of it but i can see where hes coming from. Its almost like he has to chose between his parents and i dont think its right for people to have to do that.Then theres the box that says other which is even worse than selecting one race over the other because it would make people feel like they are alone and dont fit into a group.
Though I understand where Anthony is coming from, I could not relate with the reading. My ethnic background is not very complex, so it is not a problem for me to check off the little boxes. I think if a person fits under the “other” box, I do not think it is too much trouble to choose that one and explain who you are. That being said, I understand how some people would be offended to choose the “other” box because it can lead to generalizations that are not necessarily true. Overall, I see Anthony’s point, but I do not think it is as big of a problem as he makes it out to be.
I could not relate to the “Little Boxes” article since I am not from a complex racial family like Anthony is from. I have never had this sort of issue, but I can understand how Anthony finds it offensive to classify himself under only one ethnicity. It would be tough telling people that you are from one specific society, when each of your relatives are different. However, I think it’s pointless complaining about this issue when all she has to do is check off a box. This is not the time to make it a big deal and I doubt many people are even going to see her answer.
I also agree with Krystle..i like the idea that you define who you are. he should be able to make a choice of what he thinks he is most like and if he cant then just check off other
I agree with Steph, I couldn’t put myself into Anthony’s shoes because my ethnic background is not very complex. I feel that it would be tough having to choose an “other” box and not your true identity. But this was definitely a silly time for Anthony to be complaining, all she had to do was check off a box for, at most, a couple of people to see.
I agree with Lyndsie in that when it comes to creating the options for these little boxes, the intent is not to offend anybody or make them feel left out. These generalizations are there to simplify our complex society. I also agree with Rick because I thought Anthony was a little sensitive and made this issue larger than it needs to be.
I find it interesting how many of us, though understand where Wright is coming from, can't identify with him. However, it's understandable that those with complex backgrounds can. I agree with Lyndsie Graham that he appears to be making a "bid deal out of nothing", however, I'm trying to look at it in a more metaphorical light.
I think that it's true that society tends to generalize people, or anything for that matter, but I agree with Tannen's quote that we are just trying to make sense of a world that can be very overwhelming at times. My group and I talked about how it's true that generalizations should not be made with the intent to offend someone, but in terms of the literal "little boxes" we check off on various forms, I think that it's for a different purpose.
Some examples that come to mind where these "little boxes" are necessary are medical forms, as well as describing someone, perhaps a suspect of a crime. In regards to medical forms, perhaps it is important for the doctor/nurse to know the exact ethnicity of an individual because some nationalities are more prone to certain medical problems than others. I have little knowledge of the medical field, however, so I can't confirm it, but there must be some sort of practical reason. As for describing a suspect, I don't think someone's sensitivity to stereotypes should be considered at all. If you need to describe someone, say what they look like. Though people may refer to Wright as Asian, which he claims he is not 100%, I feel that it would be irrelevant what he thinks about it. If you are describing a person, you should do the best you can.
In my opinion, those were some practical examples where those "little boxes" do have a purpose in society other than to offend someone. Personally, I cannot empathize with Wright because checking off boxes for me is rather easy. However, if he is referring to the big picture, I can see his point.
Also, Brian Looby makes a great point. It's up to yourself to figure out your identity. Checking off boxes on a piece of paper should not define who you really are.
I find it interesting how many of us, though understand where Wright is coming from, can't identify with him. However, it's understandable that those with complex backgrounds can. I agree with Lyndsie Graham that he appears to be making a "bid deal out of nothing", however, I'm trying to look at it in a more metaphorical light.
I think that it's true that society tends to generalize people, or anything for that matter, but I agree with Tannen's quote that we are just trying to make sense of a world that can be very overwhelming at times. My group and I talked about how it's true that generalizations should not be made with the intent to offend someone, but in terms of the literal "little boxes" we check off on various forms, I think that it's for a different purpose.
Some examples that come to mind where these "little boxes" are necessary are medical forms, as well as describing someone, perhaps a suspect of a crime. In regards to medical forms, perhaps it is important for the doctor/nurse to know the exact ethnicity of an individual because some nationalities are more prone to certain medical problems than others. I have little knowledge of the medical field, however, so I can't confirm it, but there must be some sort of practical reason. As for describing a suspect, I don't think someone's sensitivity to stereotypes should be considered at all. If you need to describe someone, say what they look like. Though people may refer to Wright as Asian, which he claims he is not 100%, I feel that it would be irrelevant what he thinks about it. If you are describing a person, you should do the best you can.
In my opinion, those were some practical examples where those "little boxes" do have a purpose in society other than to offend someone. Personally, I cannot empathize with Wright because checking off boxes for me is rather easy. However, if he is referring to the big picture, I can see his point.
Also, Brian Looby makes a great point. It's up to yourself to figure out your identity. Checking off boxes on a piece of paper should not define who you really are.
I think that "Little Boxes" does not only refer to literally checking off boxes as to which nationality you are on a test, I think the author is linking these "little boxes" to stereotypes people recieve once they've checked off a certain box. I'm guessing that most people in the world today are not one single nationality. So checking off a box that says either: "White", "Hispanic", "Colored","Asian" or "Other", puts a limitation on what nationality they truely are. Like the boy in the story; he was Ecuadorean nad Asian...this would be both the Asian and Hispanic boxes so he faced the dilemma of what box to check off.There are so many stereotypes today that are associated with every nationality- white, black, Hispanic, Asian, French, Irish...etc. people should not go around putting labels on everyone in the world. It is unfair to make assumptions about someone only based off of their race even if it's only from checking off those "little boxes".
I agree with Erik, although I can't directly relate to this, I do see where the author is coming from. Whenever I get a question like that I immediately check off the box that says "White", I don't put much thought into it, but coming from someone who could check off pretty much any of those boxes, I can deffinitely see where it could be a struggle to decide which category the author fits into.
I found the story "Little Boxes" to make a big deal out of something so small. If you do not think that you fit in one of the boxes on applications then check other. All they want is to get some sense of you, they do not care about where you came from. At the same time though, I can see how being generalized into a single category can be annoying. If you fit into more than one little box.
I agree with what Lyndsie Graham had to say about the story "Little Boxes." I said about the same things that if you can not fit into one box, just check other. I found Lyndsie's insight on it wonderful. I like and completely agree with Lyndsie's last statement the they are not trying to offend anyone and there just trying to simplify the complex society of today.
I can understand where the writer of Little Boxes is coming from with being hesitant to define himself with rigid categories, but I can't relate to this problem. I don't like to define myself so simply either, but its for a survey and I know Im a lot more than whatever I check off. I think that because of his more diverse background, he finds problems with identifying with a single group, and the issue probably extends beyond just the little boxes for him.
I think that Mike had some great points regarding the context of the little boxes and whether the writer should really be taking them so seriously. I think that the writer is probably using the little boxes as just a single example of how he is being defined by society though.
I could not relate entirely to the story “Little Boxes” however I can understand why this must have been so hard for the author to deal with. There are so many times in life that people ask you about who you are and where you come from. The answers to these questions help make up your identity. When someone asks you these questions you can fully explain them. Like in this story, the boy is, Hispanic, Asian, and has English and Irish roots; when he is asked these questions he can fully explain it to you. However, there are many times in life that you get limited to only checking off one box. Like when you apply to college it gives you chooses of what you can be, but you can only pick one. This limits a person’s identity to choosing just one part of them.
it was difficult for me to connect to "Little Boxes" because my ancestry is mainly all irish on my dads side and polish on my mothers. and everyone im related to is christian and most of my close family isnt very religious and dont attend church except christmas and easter. my familys non-complex background makes it difficult for me to connect to this article.
I agree with Ricky because like him, my family isnt made up of many different ethnicities or religions therefore it was difficult for me to form a connection between my life and the article
I could not relate entirely to the story “Little Boxes” however I can understand why this must have been so hard for the author to deal with. There are so many times in life that people ask you about who you are and where you come from. The answers to these questions help make up your identity. When someone asks you these questions you can fully explain them. Like in this story, the boy is, Hispanic, Asian, and has English and Irish roots; when he is asked these questions he can fully explain it to you. However, there are many times in life that you get limited to only checking off one box. Like when you apply to college it gives you chooses of what you can be, but you can only pick one. This limits a person’s identity to choosing just one part of them.
Even though I previously said I can understand that this could be hard for some people, I agree with Lyndsie. She brings up a good point, saying that there is always the option of other. This option is usually fallowed by a blank line that you can write in who you are. However, this is not always an option and when it is not, it can become a tricky situation.
I thought reading Little Boxes was a very effective way of realizing how everyday, we are classified into specific catagories to identify ourselves, sometimes subconsciously. Admitingly, when I fill out "the little boxes" I don't think much of it, but reading this made me realize that just by filling out those little boxes, we are saying a lot about ourselves.
I agree with Ali Potts, I also could not personally relate to the story, but can definately see where he is coming from and why it would be so frusturated to always have a specific identity forced upon you.
I can relate to "Little Boxes" because I also come from a mixed-race background. I'm Burmese and Filipino but everybody thinks I look Indian, so everybody just classifies me as Indian. And that's not a problem when it's just strangers, or people you don't really care about, but when family members that are a specific race feel like you're not the same as them, one begins to feel alienated.
I think people are taking this story too literally, I don't think that Anthony was just talking about checking off boxes on a survey because that's just a meaningless task. I thought he was talking about how people box you into a group as soon as they see you, whether it's race, religion, or social-class, and how it's impossible to remove yourself from that box no matter how frustrating it is, because it's other people that put you in there.
I agree with Brian, because it's easy to say that being multi-racial isn't a difficult thing because people shouldn't judge based on appearances,but the truth is that they do. The world is filled with cliques and groups of people that share something in common. When people with complicated backgrounds come up, to make it easy for people to categorize them and to put them in a group, they are stereotyped and put into a group, whether they truly belong there or not.
I agree with what Bram said when he mentioned "all they want is to get some sense of you, they do not care about where you came from". I don't think the people who make these generalizations or stereotypes are trying to limit you because they aren't saying your nationality, or the box you check, actually defines you. You should do that on your own.
I understand where the author is coming from as I know people who have a difficult time identifying themselves because they are of mixed race. I do feel, though, that he is making a bigger fuss out of it than is necessary. Often times checking off these boxes on forms is just a way to collect general information, it shouldn't create an identity crisis, supposing that the person is confident enough in who they are.
Its tough for me to relate to this article, but I can see where he is coming from in the sense that he is looking for a group that he can identify with and be a part of. I have moved around a lot all through my childhood and I have had to find new group each time I moved so I can somewhat see where he is coming from.
I can relate to the Article because a lot of people categorize south americans as Hispanic but my native language is Portuguese and not Spanish so I wouldn't fit that category. But next to hispanic is latino wich is what I would fall under so it's very confusing for some people to understand that. But I guess though not done with bad intentions if it's close then that's what you "are"
I also agree with Lyndsie when she says that he made a big deal out of nothing. The creators of the document containing these "little boxes" do not intend on insulting or offending anyone, rather they are just trying to learn the raw facts about you. It is perfectly okay to check the "other" box; thats why it is there.
The story "Little Boxes" really exemplifies the conflict with defining/ generalizing one's identity. A person's identity is extremely important in the world and the author felt that checking off a box to try and explain who he is is impossible. My group disscussed stereotypes and generalizing. We came to the conclusion that there is always some truth behind a stereotype but it does not DEFINE a person or race.
I think that for Anthony, he is offended and confused because for his whole life he never really fit in. I think that the fact that he is feeling this way is a little over the top just because usually one is only checking off these little boxes for censuses or jobs. Its not like the person who reads what boxes he has checked off is going to make a big deal out of it if he checked "other". Anthony raises a good point in the story but is making it our to be a bigger deal than it has to.
I agree with what David said... a box cannot change who you are. It might change how others see you because you are generalizing yourself to the stereotypes naturally given by the box you checked, but you are not changing your ideals, motives, opinions, name, identity, etc.
I agree with what David said... a box cannot change who you are. It might change how others see you because you are generalizing yourself to the stereotypes naturally given by the box you checked, but you are not changing your ideals, motives, opinions, name, identity, etc.
i agree with Taylor. Generalizing and lableing is not the right thing to to but people do it every day. It's not intended to offend anyone but naturally, i think that humans generalize things on an everyday basis. This is how stereotypes are formed. For Anthony, he is worried about what category he should belong to but in reality, were all catorgorized on a number of diferent things. Not just race
I found it kind of sad about this asian/latino guy. he had a hard timer knowing what race he was just by looking at his job application so he put "other." It's kinda sad and this guy needs help.
The Story of the little boxes is becoming more and more common. Lots of people have many ethnic backgrounds. This is mostly because of how modern immigration allows people from all over the world to meet each other and combine their families together. This explains how a kid like Anthony can have south American roots as well as Asian roots. When he was talking about how hard it was for him to check off a box on the college application I honestly don’t understand his difficulty. When you fill that section out it says, “check all that apply” and even if every one of your origins are not in the options list, there is an other box. It goes along with what some other people have said before.
57 comments:
I found it hard to identify with the "Little Boxes" article because I feel like it made a big deal out of nothing. I don't think its too much trouble to just check the box labeled "other" since it is set out as an option. It's great to be an individual but it's also nice to feel like you have a connection with other people you may have things in common with. The majority of the time, people don't make groups and generalizations with the intent of offending anybody, they're just trying to simplify our complex society.
I couldn't particularly relate to the "Little Boxes" so it was hard to connect with the reading. I have never really thought of this issue before now because I particularly didn't really see it as a problem. But I do see where Anthony is coming from. With people with several ethnic backgrounds, it must be hard for them to classify with one group. And I see where that can cause them to question their identity. But if they are confident with who they are as a person, ethnically, culturally etc., then checking off the "other" box should not be a problem.
I agree with Lyndsie when she mentions that "it's also nice to feel like you have a connection with other people you may have things in common with". I think that is where the problem lies. Because individuals who can't easily classify themselves in one specific group (that is printed on a piece of paper), find it hard for them to know who they are. But those individuals should know that filling out the little boxes does not define who you are. YOU define who you are.
I felt it was difficult for me to relate to the "Little Boxes" article mainly because my ancestry isn't a very racially complex one. Everyone related to me is Italian and Christian. We're not super religious its just something we all have in common. So this makes it difficult for me to try to understand fitting myself into multiple different boxes when checking off Italian fits me perfectly.
I also agree with Lyndsie G. I feel like the kid kind of made a huge deal over one tiny simplistic detail. Just check other!!!!!
I understand Anthony Wright's distress in having to choose one ethnicity, religion or social class when none apply. If you aren't poor, why would you want to classified as such? Many times the boxes are set up in a way that when you read the box title, stereotypes pop in your head. When I hear the word Asian I don't think of someone who is from Russia or Turkey but both countries are in Asia. The box words have become loaded and I can see why Anthony would hesitate to pick just one. However, when you select a box you only change how the reader(s) see you. When you fill out the boxes they don't change your identity. You determine yourself no matter what a piece of paper says.
I also agree with Lyndsie that having a box for "other" certainly helps. Anthony's case is unusual and there can't be a box for "Ecuadorean mother but Asian father with English and Irish roots." "Other" should always be an option because there are almost always exceptions. The original options are there because if everyone checked "other," the boxes would serve no purpose at all. As the boxes do serve a purpose and a very large majority of the world's population is not "other," the boxes are helpful and should remain present.
It was hard for me to relate to the specific story, but I can see why for some people it might be hard to express who they are by just checking one box if they are multiple ethnicity's. I understand why people would get offended by being generalized or grouped by stereotypes.
I agree with Lyndsie that not a lot of people group or generalize to offend someone, it is just human nature. I also agree that the other box gives a person a chance to show they are not just one ethnicity or one specific group.
I agree with Lyndsie that not a lot of people group or generalize to offend someone, it is just human nature. I also agree that the other box gives a person a chance to show they are not just one ethnicity or one specific group.
I found the writing a bit hard to identify with. It seems as if Wright is trying to figure out his own identity by labeling himself into a group, which to me appears contradictory. It also was strange that he makes himself out to be a victim of the system, when nothing has happened to him from either checking or not checking a particular box. And I feel like since there is a box for other, and he can write in exactly his identity, I don't see what there is to complain about. I understand the idea of not wanting to be stereotyped for belonging to a certain group, but Wright seems like he wants to be able to identify with a group while at the same time putting out the idea that he has no desire to be grouped or generalized at all.
I could actually fully agree with “Little Boxes” because I am Irish, and Portuguese. I look totally white but I am fluent in Spanish which takes other Latinos off guard. They don’t expect me to be able to speak Spanish. I actually just applied for work at Stop and Shop, There wasn’t a box for White/Latino. I lived in El Salvador for 2 years and a lot of kids would treat me like some “Gringo” but eventually I took my place in the school. It seems to be a trend to say all Latinos are Mexican, which is a very ignorant thing to say. Many countries in Latin America have extremely different cultures, and ways of speaking. A Cuban will not speak Spanish like an Argentinean. It’s hard growing up not knowing what “Group” you should identify with, but eventually you should find out nobody is the same and you will find people that will accept you for what you are.
I agree with Lyndsie's idea that it made a big deal out of nothing, and that the kinds of labels he's talking about in "Little Boxes" are not really offensive. I also really like Krystle's ideas and wordplay of "YOU" defining who you are, not the boxes.
One final thought: The last line of the writing seemed a little over-dramatic to me.
Insightful words Looby.
David brings up a good point.It can get quite stressful because other people identify you with these labels.It's not up to some piece of paper to identify yourself. It's up to YOU.
Thanks Ethan.
I felt like the kid made a big deal out of it but i can see where hes coming from. Its almost like he has to chose between his parents and i dont think its right for people to have to do that.Then theres the box that says other which is even worse than selecting one race over the other because it would make people feel like they are alone and dont fit into a group.
Though I understand where Anthony is coming from, I could not relate with the reading. My ethnic background is not very complex, so it is not a problem for me to check off the little boxes. I think if a person fits under the “other” box, I do not think it is too much trouble to choose that one and explain who you are. That being said, I understand how some people would be offended to choose the “other” box because it can lead to generalizations that are not necessarily true. Overall, I see Anthony’s point, but I do not think it is as big of a problem as he makes it out to be.
I could not relate to the “Little Boxes” article since I am not from a complex racial family like Anthony is from. I have never had this sort of issue, but I can understand how Anthony finds it offensive to classify himself under only one ethnicity. It would be tough telling people that you are from one specific society, when each of your relatives are different. However, I think it’s pointless complaining about this issue when all she has to do is check off a box. This is not the time to make it a big deal and I doubt many people are even going to see her answer.
I also agree with Krystle..i like the idea that you define who you are. he should be able to make a choice of what he thinks he is most like and if he cant then just check off other
I agree with Steph, I couldn’t put myself into Anthony’s shoes because my ethnic background is not very complex. I feel that it would be tough having to choose an “other” box and not your true identity. But this was definitely a silly time for Anthony to be complaining, all she had to do was check off a box for, at most, a couple of people to see.
I agree with Lyndsie in that when it comes to creating the options for these little boxes, the intent is not to offend anybody or make them feel left out. These generalizations are there to simplify our complex society. I also agree with Rick because I thought Anthony was a little sensitive and made this issue larger than it needs to be.
I find it interesting how many of us, though understand where Wright is coming from, can't identify with him. However, it's understandable that those with complex backgrounds can. I agree with Lyndsie Graham that he appears to be making a "bid deal out of nothing", however, I'm trying to look at it in a more metaphorical light.
I think that it's true that society tends to generalize people, or anything for that matter, but I agree with Tannen's quote that we are just trying to make sense of a world that can be very overwhelming at times. My group and I talked about how it's true that generalizations should not be made with the intent to offend someone, but in terms of the literal "little boxes" we check off on various forms, I think that it's for a different purpose.
Some examples that come to mind where these "little boxes" are necessary are medical forms, as well as describing someone, perhaps a suspect of a crime. In regards to medical forms, perhaps it is important for the doctor/nurse to know the exact ethnicity of an individual because some nationalities are more prone to certain medical problems than others. I have little knowledge of the medical field, however, so I can't confirm it, but there must be some sort of practical reason. As for describing a suspect, I don't think someone's sensitivity to stereotypes should be considered at all. If you need to describe someone, say what they look like. Though people may refer to Wright as Asian, which he claims he is not 100%, I feel that it would be irrelevant what he thinks about it. If you are describing a person, you should do the best you can.
In my opinion, those were some practical examples where those "little boxes" do have a purpose in society other than to offend someone. Personally, I cannot empathize with Wright because checking off boxes for me is rather easy. However, if he is referring to the big picture, I can see his point.
Also, Brian Looby makes a great point. It's up to yourself to figure out your identity. Checking off boxes on a piece of paper should not define who you really are.
I find it interesting how many of us, though understand where Wright is coming from, can't identify with him. However, it's understandable that those with complex backgrounds can. I agree with Lyndsie Graham that he appears to be making a "bid deal out of nothing", however, I'm trying to look at it in a more metaphorical light.
I think that it's true that society tends to generalize people, or anything for that matter, but I agree with Tannen's quote that we are just trying to make sense of a world that can be very overwhelming at times. My group and I talked about how it's true that generalizations should not be made with the intent to offend someone, but in terms of the literal "little boxes" we check off on various forms, I think that it's for a different purpose.
Some examples that come to mind where these "little boxes" are necessary are medical forms, as well as describing someone, perhaps a suspect of a crime. In regards to medical forms, perhaps it is important for the doctor/nurse to know the exact ethnicity of an individual because some nationalities are more prone to certain medical problems than others. I have little knowledge of the medical field, however, so I can't confirm it, but there must be some sort of practical reason. As for describing a suspect, I don't think someone's sensitivity to stereotypes should be considered at all. If you need to describe someone, say what they look like. Though people may refer to Wright as Asian, which he claims he is not 100%, I feel that it would be irrelevant what he thinks about it. If you are describing a person, you should do the best you can.
In my opinion, those were some practical examples where those "little boxes" do have a purpose in society other than to offend someone. Personally, I cannot empathize with Wright because checking off boxes for me is rather easy. However, if he is referring to the big picture, I can see his point.
Also, Brian Looby makes a great point. It's up to yourself to figure out your identity. Checking off boxes on a piece of paper should not define who you really are.
Sorry for posting as anonymous first.
I think that "Little Boxes" does not only refer to literally checking off boxes as to which nationality you are on a test, I think the author is linking these "little boxes" to stereotypes people recieve once they've checked off a certain box. I'm guessing that most people in the world today are not one single nationality. So checking off a box that says either: "White", "Hispanic",
"Colored","Asian" or "Other", puts a limitation on what nationality they truely are. Like the boy in the story; he was Ecuadorean nad Asian...this would be both the Asian and Hispanic boxes so he faced the dilemma of what box to check off.There are so many stereotypes today that are associated with every nationality- white, black, Hispanic, Asian, French, Irish...etc. people should not go around putting labels on everyone in the world. It is unfair to make assumptions about someone only based off of their race even if it's only from checking off those "little boxes".
I agree with Erik, although I can't directly relate to this, I do see where the author is coming from. Whenever I get a question like that I immediately check off the box that says "White", I don't put much thought into it, but coming from someone who could check off pretty much any of those boxes, I can deffinitely see where it could be a struggle to decide which category the author fits into.
I found the story "Little Boxes" to make a big deal out of something so small. If you do not think that you fit in one of the boxes on applications then check other. All they want is to get some sense of you, they do not care about where you came from. At the same time though, I can see how being generalized into a single category can be annoying. If you fit into more than one little box.
I agree with what Lyndsie Graham had to say about the story "Little Boxes." I said about the same things that if you can not fit into one box, just check other. I found Lyndsie's insight on it wonderful. I like and completely agree with Lyndsie's last statement the they are not trying to offend anyone and there just trying to simplify the complex society of today.
I can understand where the writer of Little Boxes is coming from with being hesitant to define himself with rigid categories, but I can't relate to this problem. I don't like to define myself so simply either, but its for a survey and I know Im a lot more than whatever I check off. I think that because of his more diverse background, he finds problems with identifying with a single group, and the issue probably extends beyond just the little boxes for him.
I think that Mike had some great points regarding the context of the little boxes and whether the writer should really be taking them so seriously. I think that the writer is probably using the little boxes as just a single example of how he is being defined by society though.
I could not relate entirely to the story “Little Boxes” however I can understand why this must have been so hard for the author to deal with. There are so many times in life that people ask you about who you are and where you come from. The answers to these questions help make up your identity. When someone asks you these questions you can fully explain them. Like in this story, the boy is, Hispanic, Asian, and has English and Irish roots; when he is asked these questions he can fully explain it to you. However, there are many times in life that you get limited to only checking off one box. Like when you apply to college it gives you chooses of what you can be, but you can only pick one. This limits a person’s identity to choosing just one part of them.
it was difficult for me to connect to "Little Boxes" because my ancestry is mainly all irish on my dads side and polish on my mothers. and everyone im related to is christian and most of my close family isnt very religious and dont attend church except christmas and easter. my familys non-complex background makes it difficult for me to connect to this article.
I agree with Ricky because like him, my family isnt made up of many different ethnicities or religions therefore it was difficult for me to form a connection between my life and the article
I could not relate entirely to the story “Little Boxes” however I can understand why this must have been so hard for the author to deal with. There are so many times in life that people ask you about who you are and where you come from. The answers to these questions help make up your identity. When someone asks you these questions you can fully explain them. Like in this story, the boy is, Hispanic, Asian, and has English and Irish roots; when he is asked these questions he can fully explain it to you. However, there are many times in life that you get limited to only checking off one box. Like when you apply to college it gives you chooses of what you can be, but you can only pick one. This limits a person’s identity to choosing just one part of them.
Even though I previously said I can understand that this could be hard for some people, I agree with Lyndsie. She brings up a good point, saying that there is always the option of other. This option is usually fallowed by a blank line that you can write in who you are. However, this is not always an option and when it is not, it can become a tricky situation.
I thought reading Little Boxes was a very effective way of realizing how everyday, we are classified into specific catagories to identify ourselves, sometimes subconsciously. Admitingly, when I fill out "the little boxes" I don't think much of it, but reading this made me realize that just by filling out those little boxes, we are saying a lot about ourselves.
I agree with Ali Potts, I also could not personally relate to the story, but can definately see where he is coming from and why it would be so frusturated to always have a specific identity forced upon you.
I can relate to "Little Boxes" because I also come from a mixed-race background. I'm Burmese and Filipino but everybody thinks I look Indian, so everybody just classifies me as Indian. And that's not a problem when it's just strangers, or people you don't really care about, but when family members that are a specific race feel like you're not the same as them, one begins to feel alienated.
I think people are taking this story too literally, I don't think that Anthony was just talking about checking off boxes on a survey because that's just a meaningless task. I thought he was talking about how people box you into a group as soon as they see you, whether it's race, religion, or social-class, and how it's impossible to remove yourself from that box no matter how frustrating it is, because it's other people that put you in there.
I agree with Brian, because it's easy to say that being multi-racial isn't a difficult thing because people shouldn't judge based on appearances,but the truth is that they do. The world is filled with cliques and groups of people that share something in common. When people with complicated backgrounds come up, to make it easy for people to categorize them and to put them in a group, they are stereotyped and put into a group, whether they truly belong there or not.
I agree with what Bram said when he mentioned "all they want is to get some sense of you, they do not care about where you came from". I don't think the people who make these generalizations or stereotypes are trying to limit you because they aren't saying your nationality, or the box you check, actually defines you. You should do that on your own.
I understand where the author is coming from as I know people who have a difficult time identifying themselves because they are of mixed race. I do feel, though, that he is making a bigger fuss out of it than is necessary. Often times checking off these boxes on forms is just a way to collect general information, it shouldn't create an identity crisis, supposing that the person is confident enough in who they are.
Its tough for me to relate to this article, but I can see where he is coming from in the sense that he is looking for a group that he can identify with and be a part of. I have moved around a lot all through my childhood and I have had to find new group each time I moved so I can somewhat see where he is coming from.
I can relate to the Article because a lot of people categorize south americans as Hispanic but my native language is Portuguese and not Spanish so I wouldn't fit that category. But next to hispanic is latino wich is what I would fall under so it's very confusing for some people to understand that. But I guess though not done with bad intentions if it's close then that's what you "are"
I also agree with Lyndsie when she says that he made a big deal out of nothing. The creators of the document containing these "little boxes" do not intend on insulting or offending anyone, rather they are just trying to learn the raw facts about you. It is perfectly okay to check the "other" box; thats why it is there.
I agree with Lyndsie I don't think the intention is to offend but make the process easyer and as simple as possible
The story "Little Boxes" really exemplifies the conflict with defining/ generalizing one's identity. A person's identity is extremely important in the world and the author felt that checking off a box to try and explain who he is is impossible. My group disscussed stereotypes and generalizing. We came to the conclusion that there is always some truth behind a stereotype but it does not DEFINE a person or race.
I think that for Anthony, he is offended and confused because for his whole life he never really fit in. I think that the fact that he is feeling this way is a little over the top just because usually one is only checking off these little boxes for censuses or jobs. Its not like the person who reads what boxes he has checked off is going to make a big deal out of it if he checked "other". Anthony raises a good point in the story but is making it our to be a bigger deal than it has to.
I agree with what David said... a box cannot change who you are. It might change how others see you because you are generalizing yourself to the stereotypes naturally given by the box you checked, but you are not changing your ideals, motives, opinions, name, identity, etc.
I agree with what David said... a box cannot change who you are. It might change how others see you because you are generalizing yourself to the stereotypes naturally given by the box you checked, but you are not changing your ideals, motives, opinions, name, identity, etc.
i agree with Taylor. Generalizing and lableing is not the right thing to to but people do it every day. It's not intended to offend anyone but naturally, i think that humans generalize things on an everyday basis. This is how stereotypes are formed. For Anthony, he is worried about what category he should belong to but in reality, were all catorgorized on a number of diferent things. Not just race
I found it kind of sad about this asian/latino guy. he had a hard timer knowing what race he was just by looking at his job application so he put "other." It's kinda sad and this guy needs help.
I was absent that day
I was absent today
The Story of the little boxes is becoming more and more common. Lots of people have many ethnic backgrounds. This is mostly because of how modern immigration allows people from all over the world to meet each other and combine their families together. This explains how a kid like Anthony can have south American roots as well as Asian roots. When he was talking about how hard it was for him to check off a box on the college application I honestly don’t understand his difficulty. When you fill that section out it says, “check all that apply” and even if every one of your origins are not in the options list, there is an other box. It goes along with what some other people have said before.
I was absent.
I apologize, im the first anonymous post
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