Oooh

[masslibrulgirl]

Really interesting discussion on Jewishness and whiteness

Comments

[neuromancerzss]

I think most of the influences that come with race are actually more defined by what others view you as. A black man could define himself as white, but he's still going to receive all the difficulties of being black.

[masslibrulgirl]

Yeah, that's what some people said in the comments. What makes it complicated is that Ashkenazi Jews are usually viewed as white, but sometimes not (again, there are more descriptions of this in the comments, with different people having different experiences of fitting in or being considered an "other" in various places).

[biteythevampire]

thanks for linking that Luara, it was really interesting, and brings up a lot of complex questions. you and neuro are right, while everyone has control over the culture and racial identity they have for themselves, no one can control the effects of what others percieve you as, whether it's the same or different than you would yourself.

[masslibrulgirl]

You're welcome! It is really interesting and complex. Race is a social construction, but how it's constructed can vary in all sorts of ways, and this is a really interesting example of that.