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Jabiz Raisdana Cultural Concept Map - Coggle Diagram
Jabiz Raisdana
Cultural Concept Map
Ableness
Able bodied.
As I get older, I am finding I can trust my body less and less. I broken my ankle Skateboarding in 2016 and this had a lasting effecting on the reliably of my body.
I have always been very thin, to the point of having body image issues as a young man, but as I get older I am gaining weight and find it hard to feel fit and strong,
Neurotypical
There is a history of anxiety and depression in my family. I sometimes feel that I may have self medicated my way through tough issues of my life when counselling may have been appropriate
Age
I am 48 and often look back at my youth nostalgically.
I value youth in terms of energy and vibe. I am often worry about getting older.
At work, I often feel more and more like the older member of staff and wonder if I am becoming too cynical, safe and predictable.
Nationality
Iran
I speak Farsi and have a firm understanding of Iranian history and culture.
I travelled to Iran to visit my father in 2004. That was the one and only time I have been there. While, I felt like a foreigner, most of the time, there was a sense of coming "home:
American
I have an American passport and am grateful for the mobility and privilege it affords me while traveling.
I will always say that I was born in Iran as I find many aspects of being "American" problematic.
Race
White
As a young person trying to assimilate into American culture as some one from Iran, I leaned heavily on my perceived whiteness.
As I get older, I find the very concept of whiteness problematic.
I will now always add "other" on a race card for visas,
Person of Color
Many Iranians, consider themselves the first White people and will often make a distinction that we are Persian and not Arab (Brown) but Aryan (White) This had an impact of my race consciousness growing up. It took time to unlearn this racist thinking.
Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual
As a slightly effeminate and thin child, I was very worried not to be labeled as a homosexual as a teenager. I sometimes felt my taste in music and ability to feel more comfortable around girls, was something to worry about.
As an adult, I spend much of my time with women. I have two daughters and I am often the only man in teams working at my school. I feel comfortable with this , as I still feel more myself when interacting with men, but I sometimes will miss just "bro-ing out" with my male friends.
In HS, I feel I sometimes over emphasised my heterosexualityy in typical macho bravado, even going so far as to join the football team and showing off how masculine I could be.
Bi-Curious
I have never been sexually attracted to men, but living and working in SF as a young man in the 90's I was open to the possibility of a more fluid sexuality, although nothing ever came of it.
Religion
Atheist
Being from Iran and seeing the impact of Islam on Iran, I have always been very sceptical and cautious about any organised religion.
Spiritual
I find most (all) religions to be more political tools to control people and find little relevance or solace in their spiritual messages.
I have sought moments of connection to a higher being, but have never succeeded. I am often distrustful of overtly religious people.
Zen Buddhist
As a teenager, my parents attended lectures and meditation sessions at a Zen center in Marin County. I often tagged along and found much of what heard relatable.
I am vegetarian and try to practice mindfulness when I can. I have never been a regular meditator. I believe in the idea of all life is energy that is moved through the universe. I see strong connections between Zen practice and my beliefs in justice, sustainability and science. I do not see Zen as a religion, but as a way of living. I try to stay true to teh basic tenets, but do not consider myself a Buddhist.
Gender
CIS Male
Class & Social Economic Status
I was raised as a lower middle class immigrant child in one of the most affluent counties in the USA
Although, I often felt that I had less than my peers, I was never left wanting or lived in poverty.
As an international school teacher, I feel that I have a standard of living that affords me an upper middle class status.
I often take for granted the privilege of regular international travel and access to luxury hotels and activities in my everyday life- such as concerts, eating out, etc..
Ethnicity
I speak Farsi and have a firm understanding of Iranian history and culture.
I often worry that I am not a "good" Iranian, as I have assimilated too much to the West. I feel guilty for not teaching my kids Farsi and not really immersing them in Persian culture.
Born in Iran and moved to Marin County, CA when I was 5 years old
If anything, I feel more Californian than American
I connect to and relate to many counter cultural American activist, artist and revolutionaries.