What It's Like to Grow Up Without Representation

By: Grace Molina

To most teens, seeing themselves reflected in the stories they read and the shows they watch is vital to a positive sense of self. But for young people who belong to marginalized groups, representation is usually slim or shallow. As a mixed child with Filipino and Dominican heritage, I grew up with this absence face-to-face.

Both the Dominican Republic and the Philippines are countries and islands rich in culture, history, and community bonds. Behind stories of ignorance that are so often manipulated by poverty, political unrest, or colonial histories, there is rich humanity. The strength, the passion, and the creativity of the people who inhabit them are admirable and worthy. All too often, textbooks and classrooms get to describe the story, however, and it is a story of hardship or of negative stereotypes.

I remember sitting in history class, feeling alone and severed each time my heritage was explained only through war or economic struggles. It felt as though my cultures were issues to be overcome rather than the things of pride they had once been to me. When this occurred, I would feel disconnected, like I was sitting miles away from the sense of belonging that many of my peers seemed to take for granted. This feeling of being "other" was difficult to overcome.

The absence of positive portrayal was more than a lack of learning. It was an erasure of identity. When the narrative about your culture is one of struggle or weakness, it shapes how you see yourself and where you belong in the world. For me, this made it harder to be confident and connected to my heritage. I was generally the only student whose origins others did not know. The strangeness fostered a sense of isolation common among many marginalized young people.

Regardless of the struggles, this lack of diversity fueled a stronger want for me to learn and appreciate my cultural heritages. Through the years, I looked for avenues to study languages, connect with people who also had similar heritages, and rediscover rich histories not provided in textbooks or mainstream media. It was a process for me to rediscover my identity and find strength and beauty in my cultures.

It is not my experience alone to have grown up without representation. The invisibility or misrepresentation is a common challenge for many marginalized youth. When education and the media do not portray diverse experiences, it conveys a harmful implication that some stories are less valuable or deserving. This invisibility has the potential to erode self-esteem, constrain aspirations, and even influence mental health.

Representation matters because it does not just uncover faces or voices. It authenticates identity and affirms membership. It tells young people that their histories, their cultures, and their experiences matter. It is this affirmation that encourages pride, self-respect, and confidence, which are essential in the early years of young people.

For content and education providers, there is a responsibility to broaden the narratives they present. That means moving beyond stereotypes and negative news headlines to include stories of creativity, resilience, innovation, and everyday life in marginalized communities. Teaching about artists, activists, and community leaders alongside their past struggles presents a balanced and representative image.

Integrating culturally inclusive curricula can also assist in the development of empathy and appreciation by all students, not just marginalized ones. Through exposure to the richness of other cultures, students build respect for diversity that has the power to eliminate prejudice and discrimination.

Media also plays a powerful role. What they experience in books, television, film, and on the Internet makes a difference in how young people perceive themselves and others. Ongoing and realistic portrayals of marginalized youth challenge stereotypes and broaden possibilities for identity and dreams.

To young people who may feel invisible or misrepresented, recall that your identity is a beauty and a strength. Whether your culture has been overlooked or misrepresented, it is rich with tales of strength, community, and creativity that deserve to be celebrated. Drawing upon your heritage as a starting point can be a truly empowering move towards self-love.

By sharing our stories and fighting for greater representation, we can help change the narratives of marginalized identities. Not only will this make those who have been rendered invisible for so long better off, but society will be richer and brighter. When every young person sees themselves represented in the stories they are told, the world is a more inclusive and hopeful place.

Sources

Impact of representation: https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/impact-of-representation

The role of culturally inclusive curriculum: https://www.edutopia.org/article/culturally-inclusive-curriculum

Youth self-esteem and media representation: https://www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2018/09/media-representation

Empowering youth activism through representation: https://www.youthtoday.org/2019/05/the-power-of-representation-in-youth-activism