Blog Entry #2: Culture, Gender, and Me

The purpose of this blog post is to reflect on how my cultural background and gender identity have shaped the way I see the world and communicate with others. In Interpersonal Communication class, we are covering this topic, and in the text and videos this week, it is mentioned that some experts believe different genders can represent different “cultures,” which influences how we express ourselves and connect. Through this reflection, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of my own experiences and how culture and gender played a role in shaping my personal identity and communication.

First, let me share, I come from a BIG, beautiful family! I am number seven of eight kids, with an even split of 4 boys and 4 girls. My cultural background is truly a unique blend, with my father being half Black and half White, and my mother being half Mexican and half Spanish (yes, the epitome of the melting pot, right?). Growing up as a military brat meant that I was surrounded by a variety of cultures and customs, and honestly, I was sheltered from racism while living on base. Most of our neighbors were a beautiful mix of backgrounds; on one side, a Black man married to a White German woman; on the other, a Vietnamese woman married to a Black man. We were taught early that kindness, fairness, and service were values we lived by. Whether it was cleaning, helping a neighbor, or sharing food, if we could help, by golly, we did!

One of my favorite memories is when my mom gathered the women from the neighborhood to share recipes from their home countries. From schnitzel to egg rolls, the kitchen was alive with culture, laughter, and lots and lots of love. This taught me that culture isn’t just about where you’re from, it’s also about what you’re willing to share and how you treat others.

When it comes to gender, I learned early on that everyone was expected to contribute, regardless of being a boy or girl. In our house, nobody was off the hook for taking out the trash or scrubbing toilets. Watching my parents treat us fairly and model equality left a lasting impression. Gender roles weren’t strictly defined, which made me feel confident doing things society might label as “for boys” or “for girls.”

Looking back, “expressive talk” was definitely a female thing in our home. We girls were always way more vocal. But as I grew older, I realized this wasn’t necessarily just about being talkative; it reflected a deeper emotional openness that shaped how I would later form relationships. I truly believe being both multicultural and expressive has made me more empathetic and adaptable in how I connect with others.

These reflections helped me realize how much culture and gender overlap and influence each other in my life. Understanding this connection truly helps me value communication even more! Moving forward, I hope and pray that I can carry these lessons with me and pass them on to my kiddos as well; staying open-minded, kind, and willing to keep learning from others is a lifelong goal.