Skin: Race and Physical Appearance
Skin Discussion
Anchoring Identity-
Why do you think Sandra’s parents chose not to discuss her skin colour?
Sandra’s parents did not discuss her skin colour because they wanted her to go to a white school, when she was born she was classified as white. Although her skin was a brown colour, She was not made aware of this and she thought she was no different to the rest of the students. Hence why she did not understand why she was treated different.
Do you think this was a wise choice given the repercussions when she started to attend boarding school?
I think they should have told Sandra about her differences and that she would have a hard time fitting in because of the stubborn nature of society back then. It is not fair to not understand why you are treated differently to others.
Why do you think Sandra was not forcibly removed from her family once she was officially classified as black?
Why do you think being comfortable with one’s physical appearance might be so important to feeling emotionally happy and stable? How do you think it consolidates a sense of belonging?
Being happy with your physical appearance is important to feeling emotionally happy and stable because if you are happy with your appearance so will others. Being happy with your physical appearance consolidates a sense of belonging to a community, no matter how different you may appear, if you are comfortable and confident about your appearance no one will treat you differently.
How does the way in which we socialize with and integrate into a community reflect how we see others and ourselves?
How does seeing the real Sandra Laing affect your impression of her racial identity?
The real Sandra Laing appeared to be over weight, she may not have been comfortable with her physical appearance and this could have affected her attempts to belong to a
Anchoring Identity-
Why do you think Sandra’s parents chose not to discuss her skin colour?
Sandra’s parents did not discuss her skin colour because they wanted her to go to a white school, when she was born she was classified as white. Although her skin was a brown colour, She was not made aware of this and she thought she was no different to the rest of the students. Hence why she did not understand why she was treated different.
Do you think this was a wise choice given the repercussions when she started to attend boarding school?
I think they should have told Sandra about her differences and that she would have a hard time fitting in because of the stubborn nature of society back then. It is not fair to not understand why you are treated differently to others.
Why do you think Sandra was not forcibly removed from her family once she was officially classified as black?
Why do you think being comfortable with one’s physical appearance might be so important to feeling emotionally happy and stable? How do you think it consolidates a sense of belonging?
Being happy with your physical appearance is important to feeling emotionally happy and stable because if you are happy with your appearance so will others. Being happy with your physical appearance consolidates a sense of belonging to a community, no matter how different you may appear, if you are comfortable and confident about your appearance no one will treat you differently.
How does the way in which we socialize with and integrate into a community reflect how we see others and ourselves?
How does seeing the real Sandra Laing affect your impression of her racial identity?
The real Sandra Laing appeared to be over weight, she may not have been comfortable with her physical appearance and this could have affected her attempts to belong to a