How Self Segregation impacted my life

Segregation has existed in the United States of America throughout its history. danah boyd, a researcher of technology and society at NYU suggests that America continues to segregate itself today. boyd argues, in her article “Why America is Self-Segregating,” that Americans self-segregate to connect with people they simply agree with, have common interests with, and won’t go against their personal ideology. I wonder if self-segregation is really always bad or unhealthy to our society. I agree with danah’s point that only experiencing content in social media you’ve personalized, based on your likes and dislikes, can be polarizing. Another argument could be made that when we self-segregate into smaller groups with like interests or cultural backgrounds, we gain knowledge about ourselves that can ultimately be shared with a larger society for a greater good.

It is important to realize that the environment we grow up in can shape our values and impact who we are today. I grew up with two fathers that taught me a lot about life. I can say for myself, growing up with two gay dads, as well as being adopted from China, gave me a very unique perspective. As a part of this non-traditional family, I was given many pieces of advice from my parents, such as: be nice, listen to the teacher, don’t lie, get your work done, and don’t judge a book by its cover. I realized, starting in elementary school, that these pieces of advice actually helped guide me as I established my circle of friends. I began to notice, in my public school, who wanted to follow the rules and who didn’t. My circle of friends was always respectful to others and productive. I avoided students who didn’t focus on their schoolwork and I stayed clear of kids who bullied others. You could argue that this was self-segregation. I chose to find a group of people that shared my values; they were like me. The trust I had in these new friendships built my social skills and allowed me to find common interests with others.

In my high school, forms of self-segregation continued. High school groups were often created based on personal interests (sports, theater, music). Students found smaller communities that they could get involved with. For example, I was involved with theater, which connected me with other students who were interested in drama. Although I chose to self-segregate from some of the other students in high school, the diverse students in this program had worldviews and personal experiences that were different from my own. The friendships we created, as well as the lifelong skills I gained throughout my time in the theater department helped me become a more extroverted and responsible leader that could be helpful in a new community.

Social media was also a big part of my high school experience. I know, first hand, that danah’s arguments about technology causing self-segregation are true. I felt this polarization during the presidential election. I viewed Facebook posts of one of the presidential candidates mocking people with disabilities. I was born with a disability called Cerebral Palsy, which affects how my hands and feet move. In high school, I was unfortunately seen as the student with the “perks” in the classroom because of the accommodations I received. In the end, some individuals saw my accommodations as “perks” or “cheats”. Without an explanation from me, other students saw my accommodations (specifically my iPad) as an additional resource that they didn’t have. The problem was, I used my iPad for the same purposes other students used their school resources, just in a different way. Throughout high school, I’ve learned to advocate for myself by asking, requesting, or, in some cases, demanding certain actions be taken so that I could receive the same education as other students. As time went on, I gained the confidence and knowledge of explaining to others about my disability and why I have accommodations. The growth of my advocating skills helped and will help me educate more people about my disability, as well as what abilities I have.

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