I know the essay is truly optional, but if one feels that they could provide a good response not on gender orientation, but instead on their community or cultural background, should they answer it? I realize the prompt was intended for those with unique perspectives on gender identity, but the prompt is quite broad and I just want to be sure I am making the right decision in not responding to the essay as I feel it is only meant for those with unique gender identify stories.
The prompt is as follows:
“Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had to help us understand you better- perhaps related to a community you belong to, your sexual orientation or gender identity, or your family or cultural background- we encourage you to do so.”
Isn’t the third part of that list: “your family or cultural background”? Duke could have limited it to asking about sexual orientation and gender identity, which is what student activists waanted. They didn’t.