So I am writing an essay talking about my experiences with homophobia and I was wondering if I should censor the three letter word that begins with f or not? On one hand I consider it highly offensive, on the other hand it happened, does happen and people say it all the time. Censoring this word from my essay feels in some way like attempting to “downplay” its hateful meaning and the impact that the sentiment behind it has had on my life and the lives of many other youth.
Just wondering if anybody had any feedback on this
Thanks!
Can I suggest you not use this topic? I have read time and again that unless you are a brilliant writer, it is very difficult to pull off these types of essays. You will quite possibly sound a.) defensive, like you have a chip in your shoulder, b.) self righteous and indignant, c.) downtrodden and defeatist, d.) on a mission to save the world with your one essay to be read at a board room table and never discussed again, e.) they have read essays like it a million times before, f.) any or all of the previous.
If you MUST write about this topic, I would keep it strictly about you. I wouldn’t mention everyone’s discriminatory attitudes. Keep it along the lines of “as a gay person, I have been subjected to discrimination, but I have looked beyond it, and now I do/am/feel etc…” Think about what you want a college to know about you. Do you want them to think “here’s a gay person” or “here is a person who really enjoys creating art, and I understand why.” That is just an example of course, but you don’t want a label attached to you. You aren’t just a gay person, you are a dancer, or a mechanic, or a scientist, or whatever you are that makes you interesting, not just being gay.
“You aren’t just a gay person, you are a dancer, or a mechanic, or a scientist, or whatever you are that makes you interesting, not just being gay.”
This is basically what the essay is about. The moment when I realized within myself that I am more than what everyone else labels me as and that my heritage and sexuality are not things that are wrong with me, they are things that some select people choose to have a problem with. Your quote above is actually kind of similar to my essay
It’s not the focus of my essay, just something in passing that made me think about who I was and what kind of person that I am
^^^Yeah if it’s a liberal school I doubt they’ll care about the rhetoric more than the context in which it fits with your essay. If it’s a conservative school stay away from the gay topic completely. Good luck!
^Agree that if used, it should be used in context. This is why I was cautioning against it. The essay is going to tell us about you and who you are, so be sure the f word is necessary and not just there as an attention getting device.
