german heritage: feeling different but looking the same

8/8/2019 German Heritage: Feeling Different but Looking the Same

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German

Heritage:

Feeling Different

but Looking the

Same


2/14

Eaton, Ohio is a predominately white city rich with

fascinating history. The small city sits conveniently on theIndiana and Ohio border. The people of Eaton, Ohio are

considered to be friendly, as long as you fit into the

dominant group.

Although my physical appearanceallows me to fit in with Preble Countycitizens, there are notable differencesin my life which set me apart from therest of the community.


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Racial Identity

I am white.

I fit into the dominant group.

The county I live in is 8% white.

Preble County citizens complain

about Hispanics.

e have one successful

Hispanic-owned e ican

restaurant.

.6% of Preble County population

is Hispanic.


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Religious Identity

Notice all of Preble

Countys Christian

recognized religions.

The other group ( %)counts for all OTHER

religions.

I fit in that e tremely broad

%; I am an Atheist.


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Religious Identity (continued)

Preble County citizens side with Christian conservative values.

Election results from the past two years above.


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Gender Identity (continued)

Gender identity has influenced my college success.

I am terrified of having to rely on others.

Grandmother on left; my mother on right.


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Conclusion: hy I sometimes feel uncomfortable

although I blend in

Citizens in Preble County often

complain about foreigners.

y father became a U. . citizen ande perienced various hardships.

I understand the difficulty with

language barriers.

Often ridiculed for lack of religion.

Have been referred to as a atanist .


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Conclusion: hy I sometimes feel uncomfortable

although I blend in (continued)

I am an outspoken and determined.

any girls I know want to stay at home.

I live in a predominately conservative community; I am not conservative.

I am e perienced with different foods and traditions.

Interviewee claims Preble County people today are uneducated.

Lack of shared interests with Preble County people.


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So what? How this makes me the person I am

today.

I have become a culturebroker in community.

I sometimes struggle with

personal identity.

I hide my religious identity.

I still ponder my spiritualidentity.

I understand being whiteworks in my favor.

I am used to looking likeeveryone else.


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Questions:

. How has your ethnic

background influenced how you

feel you fit into your community?

. Looking back now, how have

your family members influenced

your view of gender identity?


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References

( ). Migrations to Preble County, Ohio. Retrieved from http://

www.migrations.org/county.php3?migcounty=Preble

% 0County,% 0OH

Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of LaborStatistics, National

Agricultural Statistics Service, National Center for Health Statistics &

U.S. Census Bureau. ( 00 ). Preble County, Ohio [Data file].

Retrieved from http:// www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/3 /3 35.html

Preble County Ohio. ( 00 ). City-Data. Retrieved from http:// www.city-

data.com/county/Preble_County-OH.html

Martin, J. N., Nakayama, T. K., ( 0 0). Intercultural communication in

contexts. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

german heritage: feeling different but looking the same

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