This article hit the homebase for me. I was once introduced by an acquaintance to her friends as "This is Rieya, she's from the Philippines but she's not THAT kind of Filipino." I didn't bother to protest and actually found solace in having other people make the disclaimer that most Filipinos (educated abroad and have professions that deviate from the stereotypical blue collar jobs Flips are known to have)) made occasionally/frequently. I have also dismissed comments of being too educated or looking too exotic and sounding too American when the Feminist in me ought to call out those half~assed racist comments. I don't know why but it does get to you. It makes you so frustrated to have to work twice as hard to be considered half as competent as your peers because of your Race and when you get to actually demolish that glassceiling, you are confronted with not being able to fully feel that success because you're seen as the exception to the rule. I am not THAT kind of Filipino and I don't know where to place myself. And if you've never been mistaken as a prostitute while waiting for a cab, harassed by the immigration officer because a financially independent Filipina seems too good to be true in their eyes or have been univited to parties because apparently, international only connotes westerners and east asians, then consider yourself really lucky. Looking back at my life journey, I am certain I could have gone much further had I not struggled with these issues and I am willing to help pave that way for everybody else to not ever experience what it's like to have ridiculous big dreams and have their race clip their vision.
