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Help! Which Identity Based Social Circle Should I Segregate Myself Into?

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// Photo by Ben Duchac on Unsplash

When I first arrived at Penn, I found myself flailing about, unsure of how to identify myself in a web of social groups. I mean, how could there be separate friend groups for Chinese women AND Wasian women with Chinese mothers?

Luckily for me, I joined a Greek organization specifically meant for American-born Chinese women with bisexual siblings (who are not bisexual themselves, only their siblings) and who get mistaken for being Latina by drunk men occasionally. I was ecstatic to find the perfect identity-based social circle for myself, and I hope to help you find the same. 

Some questions you need to ask yourself: 

  • Are you rich? Congratulations, you have a social circle!
  • Are you international and rich? Congratulations, you have a social circle!
  • Are you neither of those things but really good at pretending to be? Congratulations, you have a social circle?
  • Do you identify with any of the demographic make ups of voter groups that Democrats are targeting in the 2024 presidential election? Congratulations, you have a social circle!
  • Did you grow up with the diaspora of your parents’ motherland sinking its fingers into your consciousness, cutting it into two just like your mother cut your fruit after a fight? Congratulations, you have a social circle!
  • Would you perform unspeakable acts in order to have a one-on-one Zoom meeting with Elon Musk? Congratulations, you have a social circle!
  • Did you watch Glee in middle school and have it irrevocably change your passions and interests thus making you a PPE major with a secret dream to get onto Broadway (or NYADA, as one might say)? Congratulations, you have a social circle!

I hope you found your community immediately after reading this enlightening article!

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