People think they know how to label me

I'm tired of people giving me titles; and i'm tired of stereotypes.

You think you know, but you have no idea.

I am a woman because I am physically weaker than the man to my left. I am a woman because I like the color pink & I care about what I’m wearing. I am a woman because of the body that I walk in. I am a woman because I can give birth. I am NOT a woman because I have the strength to stand 10 hours of labor as I give birth to the man who will one day be physically stronger than the woman to his right. I am NOT a woman because I have a heart and am able to keep on loving and respecting men after the numerous times that they constantly judge me by my appearance and by the fact that I chose not to reveal every aspect of my body that apparently DOES make me a woman because of the simple fact that I respect myself and know that I indeed have more to offer than what first meets the eye. I am NOT a woman because of the truth and I am NOT defined by all of the pages found inside of my never ending novel; instead I am a woman because of the images that you have created and am defined by the mere hardback cover of the novel that you’re too scared to admit exists within all these “women.” Now tell me, what makes a woman?

I am Mexican American because my skin is brown & my hair is black. I am Mexican American because my eyelashes are long enough to not need mascara & because my lips are full enough to kiss every man on this planet, and sadly, you think I would. I am Mexican American because I can speak Spanish to talk behind your back & because I live in a house not quite big enough for my family. I am Mexican American and therefore must be obnoxious and lack respect. I am NOT Mexican American because my parents that were born in MEXICO risked their lives 5 times to cross the borders that you have built in this world that is not yours in order to reach your country of which is called AMERICA in order to try and live the life backed up by the so called “American Dream,” the same dream that makes this country believe that they alone do not have any food to spare for those other people with their ribs tearing away at their skin but instead make them believe they need to conserve an immense portion of that food for the garbage man that comes by every week, and for the people within their own country that have grown too large to fit into their high priced vehicles. I am NOT Mexican American because I realize that every part of me, from my hair right down to my toes, was created by the help of the images of my hard working ancestors, that every part of my physical being is made up of small parts of them, and for this reason chose not to buy chemicals to turn my lovely black hair into brown. I am NOT Mexican American because everyday that I wake up in America I have to make sure that I spell my words correctly and that when I speak I make sure to use the right tense and make sure that my pronunciation of these words is perfect in order to not be looked down upon, because when a Mexican American does this it makes them a Mexican American, but when an American does this it means they need a tutor. I am NOT Mexican American because I care more about the family within my home than the size of the house we live in. I am NOT Mexican American because I have both Mexican culture and American culture throughout my day, nor am I Mexican American because I live life from two different points of views; I am Mexican American because my parents were born in Mexico, thus making me Mexican, and illegally came to American to give me the American part of my Mexican American title. Same goes for Asian Americans, African American’s, etc.

I am a good girl because I’m a loser who doesn’t laugh at jokes with more than 3 curse words in them. I am a good girl because I’m already 18 and my parents still won’t let me stay out past 12 o’clock, and because I actually listen to them and get home by 11:30. I am a good girl because I won’t sleep with you after a year of telling you that I love you. I am a good girl because I won’t go to the party with you and get drunk while catching whiffs of marijuana scented living rooms. I am a good girl because I say no to all the good stuff, and don’t know how to have fun. I am a good girl because I’m going to college to actually learn and because I plan on actually reading the books I’ll buy there. I am a good girl because I’d rather tell the truth and get in trouble than lie and get away with it. I am NOT a good girl because once you get your first DUI, I’m the only one of your friends who knows your legal rights and consequences. I am NOT a good girl because I’ll be your next designated driver. I am NOT a good girl because I have morals and actually live by them. I am NOT a good girl because while you’re out having fun partying and telling people that I’m “gay” because I stayed home instead, I’m actually at home worried sick about you. I am NOT a good girl because when I tell you that I care, I actually mean it. I am NOT a good girl because when you need someone I’ll actually be sober enough to be there. I am NOT a good girl because I have the strength to stand up to peer pressure and not care about the fact that all the reason you’ve titled me as a good girl are false. I am NOT a good girl because I have self-control and self-respect. I am NOT a good girl because I’m not stupid.

I tell people that i'm Catholic, and... they automatically assume that:
I am Catholic because I wear a saint’s bracelet and hang a rosary on my car mirror. I am Catholic because I go to mass instead of service. I am Catholic because I attend church on Sundays. I am Catholic because I pray to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit every time that I become frightened. I am Catholic and therefore must believe in sex after marriage. I am Catholic because there’s a picture of the last supper hanging right above my dinner table in the kitchen. I am Catholic because I hang a crucifix in my room. I am Catholic and therefore must be conservative.
When really, i choose to simply title myself "Catholic" because i attend a "Catholic" church...
I'm tired of simply saying "i'm catholic" and having people spit out assumptions like crazy. "oh, so like, you think you'll go to hell if you have sex before marriage?"..."oh, so, do you want to be a nun or something?"... "oh, so are you like, super conservative?"... or like, having people say crap about the crusades. It's really annoying... it's like, they think they know me and what i'm like just because of my title as a catholic..and i guess i can't blame them. i guess im just debating as to whether or not i want to keep the title. what's in a name anyway?
I guess when people ask me what religion i am, i might start saying "oh, i attend a Catholic church, but my beliefs are a mixture of a lot of religions and ideologies."