My ethnicity is not an accessory “You’re so exotic!” I hear it constantly. I&rsquo

My ethnicity is not an accessory“You’re so exotic!” I hear it constantly. I’m ¼th Thai, and ¾ths American & Norwegian. This phrase manifests itself into other forms of “compliments” as well: “All mixed asians are so pretty!” or “I’ve never seen a girl that looks like you before.” Although these comments are almost always intended as a compliment, exclamations like these leave me feeling alienated, fetishized, and “trophied” for my mixed nationalities.Using the word “exotic” to describe a mixed person’s appearance implies one “normal” and acceptable standard of beauty- being exclusively white. The concept of the “other” perpetuates the idea that “normal” people are white. Being called exotic can feel like a ostracizing and dehumanizing message that you’re less legitimate if you don’t entirely fit into the white standard of beauty. One of Merriam Webster’s definitions of exotic is: “of a kind not used for ordinary purposes or not ordinarily encountered.” When calling someone “exotic”, it often echoes the “You’re pretty for a ____ girl” concept, leaving implications that white women are normally more attractive than mixed and colored women . An “exotic” woman is not seen for beauty of her own, but for fetishized qualities of her other nationalities. Her other nationalities are objectified as though they are accessories. The “exotic” qualities of a mixed woman are not a prize nor a trophy. The physical manifestations of her ethnicity are not accessories.They’re part of what makes up who she is as an individual, but not what defines her. I believe in appreciating the beauty of people for who they are, and the qualities they hold as individuals, unbounded to the ethnic group(s) they do (or don’t) belong to. I believe that we should accept, celebrate and appreciate the diversities and robust culture people hold in their genuine beauty, without ostracizing and objectifying those qualities.BY:Parker -- source link

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