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Results for 12/22/2006 to 01/08/2007
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Last week, Wish for darker skin said:
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"Struggling with racism
I used to have more esteem when I was younger. But now I'm not so sure if I like the way I look. I'm Mexican but I have light skin. And everybody makes fun of me because of that. They don't even call me by my name, they just call me "white girl". They say I'm an embarassment to Mexicans. It hurts me a lot. I've talked to my mom three times about this already. I've felt a little better after talking to her, but the pain always comes back. I don't want to go crying to her again because she also feels bad that I'm crying over this. Sometimes I just want darker skin to make this pain go away. I even caught my best friends laughing behind my back! This has been going on for two years now. What do I do? I hate to say it but sometimes the racism gets so bad, that I actually think that I'm not Mexican anymore. Somebody please help me!"
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Do you need advice on an issue? Other SmartGirls can
help! Submit your issue to SmartGirl.
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384 SmartGirls replied:
| 12% |
Find other friends. If they are laughing at you behind your back, then they are not your friends. |
| 18% |
Your skin color is a very small part of being "Mexican". Find other things that help you identify with your Mexican heritage. |
| 6% |
Talk to your teachers about the harassment. They can interfere when people start harassing you. |
| 14% |
Ignore what others say about you. They are just rude and ignorant. |
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50% gave other responses. Some SmartGirls said:
Actually, I'm half mexican, so I don't have skin as dark as a full Mexican. I'm very proud of my heritage, but when people ask me what my background is, they don't believe me when I tell them. Sometimes it gets me mad and sometimes it doesn't. And the deal with your friends, not to get you down or anything but they are obviously not real "friends" if they talk and laugh about you behind your back. Trust me, there are PLENTY of girls at my school that act like my friends, but then talk about me behind my back. I've learned to just ignore them and find friends that like me for me. That's what you need to find. Even if it's just ONE true, good friend...that's fine. If changing your skin color is going to get your "friends" to like you and not make fun of you, then -again- find new friends that like you for the way you are. I know it might be hard, but you should at least try. People will accept you if they know you accept yourself. Walk tall and be proud of who you are. You can't change the color of your skin, but you can change the way you feel about yourself.
Thanks to all of you that gave your advice! Please give your
advice for this week's issue.
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The advice represented on this page is the opinion of SmartGirl
users who have responded to last week's Issue of the Week. It is not the
opinion of SmartGirl.org or the University of Michigan.
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