Autobiographical incident

One of cultural diversity objectives of this course is to document and evaluate your perspectives about women, and your experiences as a consequence of your gender and identity. The autobiographical incident is a well-told story about a specific occurrence in your life that is of personal significance (examples include an experience with relationships, depression, addiction, or an eating disorder). This incident is autobiographical and one that has impacted you profoundly. When writing this paper, reflect on how your gender identity has influenced your health in a way that is different from those with other gender identities. This paper is confidential and will only be read by the professor, although topics may be shared in aggregate or anonymously. The issues raised in these papers help to frame the reality of what is going on in the health of women today and your perspectives about issues affecting you, your families and peers. Use your natural and honest voice to discuss the event(s)/issue(s) and its significance in your life. This paper should be no less than 3 double spaced pages and clearly organized with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Late papers will not be accepted.

You must address each of the following content areas; this will assist you to organize your ideas, thoughts & feelings:

1. Describe a personal incident and reflect on how your gender identity has influenced your health and in a way that is different from those with other gender identities. What impact has this incident had on your life? Describe dialogue, people, places, and times in appropriate detail in retelling the incident.

*Personal incident information to be used: Pressures of being a “real man” when it comes to being the man of the household when raised by a single mother. It adds early stress and anxiety.. Impact: Forcing me to mature faster than most at a younger age compared to my peers because I had the stress of being responsible of providing for my household which had an impact on mental health and well-being. Incident: Seeing a lack of groceries in the household or spliting meals evenly so me, my mom and my brother could eat, even if meals were not fully nutritious.

2. Describe your thoughts about the incident when it occurred.
*Thoughts*
A. Damn we are hungry.
B. How can I change our situation to a better one we are currently in?
C. How can I support my mother in a way she will continue to stay strong.

3. How do you think and feel about the incident now? Did it have a positive or negative influence on your life? Is this issue still affecting you now?

*Respons* Along these lines
I feel like it is still a sensitive topic to dicuss and I cannot express myself fully in life. It has both positive and negative influences; positive because I have learned to become independent at a young age and support my mother till this da yet negative because the lack of help provided as a man dealing with mental health issues reflects in my inability to open up.

4. Would you have a different perspective about this incident if you were raised in a different culture? Would your experiences and views be the same if your gender or gender identity were different?

*Response* Along these line
If I was raised in a different culture I would definitely have had a different perspective because as man of color from a minority and low-income community, mental health is not discussed nor dealt with but simply deemed as a rite of passage to “becoming a man”. My experiences would have been completely different if my gender were different because I would not had been forced to take initiative, however as a man, it was the “manly thing to do” in terms of taking care of my family.

5. What is the personal significance of the incident? In describing your autobiographical experience, reflect on how your own identity, whether it be race, class, gender, might have contributed in some way to the experience itself or to its resolution? Would the outcome of this incident be different if your race, class or gender were different? How does that make you feel?

*Response* Along these lines
The personal significance this incident has imposed on my identity is my motivation to building a name for myself and growing outside of the situation I was raised in. My family’s social class is what placedus in those situations when I was younger and is what pushes me now to achieve more to eventually climb up the social ladder. The outcome of this incident would had been different if my social class were different as this situation was prevelent to myself and others in my community and class. It makes me feel embarrassed and insecure having gone through this (ex. limited income and resources and financial stabiltiy today).

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