Scottish | Pakistani
I have had low points with regards to my mental health, which only recently I feel more able to discuss and control. Although these issues may not necessarily be related to being mixed-race, I do think subconsciously aspects, such as my darker, and increased amount of body hair, definitely played a part in these challenges I have experienced growing up. Now thinking about it I couldn’t even tell you one person I have seen on TV growing up that looked like me, or that I knew had a mixed background, meaning I felt like I had to look like those I was seeing daily.
Someone I have recently discovered and has really helped me is activist, Queen Esie. The thing I have grown up being most self-conscious of is my body hair. To think about the amount I have spent on hair removal products and procedures pains me a little, but I could not face being seen without bleached arm hairs / upper lip hair, and unwaxed eyebrows. I remember boys at school telling me I have a mustache or getting changed for PE lessons seeing the other girls with leg hair so fine it could barely be seen. Now that I am older, I am certainly less self-conscious about this, and with activists redefining beauty and showing how ‘real women’ look, will only help both mine and others' mentality of body hair on women.
I have never necessarily hidden parts of my identity on purpose. However, I would say I’d never openly talk about my heritage and cultural background unless specifically asked. I feel as if the comment ‘not everything is about race’ has been circling more so I guess subconsciously unless necessary I would try to avoid it.
The mixed-race community is increasing dramatically, and I feel like I am seeing more and more young people of mixed heritage in my neighborhood alone. Despite this, I do feel a sense of wanting to find people from my generation who are mixed-race. To form some sort of community and friendships with likeminded people of similar backgrounds would be amazing, hence why coming across @mixedracefaces has been such a great thing for me.
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