#Identity issues

[writingwithcolor]

Sri Lankan Fairies and Senegalese Goddesses: Mixing Mythology as a Mixed Creator

[Note: this archive ask was submitted before the Masterpost rules took effect in 2023. The ask has been abridged for clarity.]

@reydjarinkenobi asked:

Hi, I’m half Sri Lankan/half white Australian, second gen immigrant though my mum moved when she was a kid. My main character for my story is a mixed demigod/fae. [...] Her bio mum is essentially a Scottish/Sri Lankan fairy and her other bio mum (goddess) is a goddess of my own creation, Nettamaar, who’s name is derived from [...] Wolof words [...]. The community of mages that she presided over is from the South Eastern region of Senegal [...] In the beginning years of European imperialism, the goddess basically protected them through magic and by blessing a set of triplets effectively cutting them off from the outside world for a few centuries [...] I was unable to find a goddess that fit the story I wanted to tell [...] and also couldn’t find much information on the internet for local gods, which is why I have created my own. I know that the gods in Hinduism do sort of fit into [the story] but my Sri Lankan side is Christian and I don’t feel comfortable representing the Hindu gods in the way that I will be this goddess [...]. I wanted to know if any aspect of the community’s history is problematic as well as if I should continue looking further to try and find an African deity that matched my narrative needs? I was also worried that having a mixed main character who’s specifically half black would present problems as I can’t truly understand the black experience. I plan on getting mixed and black sensitivity readers once I finish my drafts [...] I do take jabs at white supremacy and imperialism and I I am planning to reflect my feelings of growing up not immersed in your own culture and feeling overwhelmed with what you don’t know when you get older [...]. I’m sorry for the long ask but I don’t really have anyone to talk to about writing and I’m quite worried about my story coming across as insensitive or problematic because of cultural history that I am not educated enough in.

Reconciliation Requires Research

First off: how close is this world’s history to our own, omitting the magic? If you’re aiming for it to be essentially parallel, I would keep in mind that Senegal was affected by the spread of Islam before the Europeans arrived, and most people there are Muslim, albeit with Wolof and other influences. 

About your Scottish/Sri Lankan fairy character: I’ll point you to this previous post on Magical humanoid worldbuilding, Desi fairies as well as this previous post on Characterization for South Asian-coded characters for some of our commentary on South Asian ‘fae’. Since she is also Scottish, the concept can tie back to the Celtic ideas of the fae.

However, reconciliation of both sides of her background can be tricky. Do you plan on including specific Sri Lankan mythos into her heritage? I would tread carefully with it, if you plan to do so. Not every polytheistic culture will have similar analogues that you can pull from.

To put it plainly, if you’re worried about not knowing enough of the cultural histories, seek out people who have those backgrounds and talk to them about it. Do your research thoroughly: find resources that come from those cultures and read carefully about the mythos that you plan to incorporate. Look for specificity when you reach out to sensitivity readers and try to find sources that go beyond a surface-level analysis of the cultures you’re looking to portray. 

~ Abhaya

I see you are drawing on Gaelic lore for your storytelling. Abhaya has given you good links to discussions we’ve had at WWC and the potential blindspots in assuming, relative to monotheistic religions like Christianity, that all polytheistic and pluralistic lore is similar to Gaelic folklore. Fae are one kind of folklore. There are many others. Consider:

Is it compatible? Are Fae compatible with the Senegalese folklore you are utilizing? 

Is it specific? What ethnic/religious groups in Senegal are you drawing from? 

Is it suitable? Are there more appropriate cultures for the type of lore you wish to create?

Remember, Senegalese is a national designation, not an ethnic one, and certainly not a designation that will inform you with respect to religious traditions. But more importantly:

...Research Requires Reconciliation

My question is why choose Senegal when your own heritage offers so much room for exploration? This isn’t to say I believe a half Sri-Lankan person shouldn’t utilize Senegalese folklore in their coding or vice-versa, but, to put it bluntly, you don’t seem very comfortable with your heritage. Religions can change, but not everything cultural changes when this happens. I think your relationship with your mother’s side’s culture offers valuable insight to how to tackle the above, and I’ll explain why.  

I myself am biracial and bicultural, and I had to know a lot about my own background before I was confident using other cultures in my writing. I had to understand my own identity—what elements from my background I wished to prioritize and what I wished to jettison. Only then was I able to think about how my work would resonate with a person from the relevant background, what to be mindful of, and where my blindspots would interfere. 

I echo Abhaya’s recommendation for much, much more research, but also include my own personal recommendation for greater self-exploration. I strongly believe the better one knows oneself, the better they can create. It is presumptuous for me to assume, but your ask’s phrasing, the outlined plot and its themes all convey a lack of confidence in your mixed identity that may interfere with confidence when researching and world-building. I’m not saying give up on this story, but if anxiety on respectful representation is a large barrier for you at the moment, this story may be a good candidate for a personal project to keep to yourself until you feel more ready.

(See similar asker concerns here: Running Commentary: What is “ok to do” in Mixed-Culture Supernatural Fiction, here: Representing Biracial Black South American Experiences and here: Am I fetishizing my Japanese character?)

- Marika.

Start More Freely with Easy Mode

Question: Why not make a complete high-fantasy universe, with no need of establishing clear real-world parallels in the text? It gives you plenty of leg room to incorporate pluralistic, multicultural mythos + folklore into the same story without excessive sweating about historically accurate worldbuilding.

It's not a *foolproof* method; even subtly coded multicultural fantasy societies like Avatar or the Grishaverse exhibit certain harmful tropes. I also don't know if you are aiming for low vs high fantasy, or the degree of your reliance on real world culture / religion / identity cues.

But don't you think it's far easier for this fantasy project to not have the additional burden of historical accuracy in the worldbuilding? Not only because I agree with Mod Marika that perhaps you seem hesitant about the identity aspect, but because your WIP idea can include themes of othering and cultural belonging (and yes, even jabs at supremacist institutions) in an original fantasy universe too. I don't think I would mind if I saw a couple of cultural markers of a Mughal Era India-inspired society without getting a full rundown of their agricultural practices, social conventions and tax systems, lol.

Mod Abhaya has provided a few good resources about what *not* to do when drawing heavily from cultural coding. With that at hand, I don't think your project should be a problem if you simply make it an alternate universe like Etheria (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power), Inys (The Priory of the Orange Tree) or Earthsea (the Earthsea series, Ursula K. Le Guin). Mind you, we can trace the analogues to each universe, but there is a lot of freedom to maneuver as you wish when incorporating identities in original fantasy. And of course, multiple sensitivity readers are a must! Wishing you the best for the project.

- Mod Mimi

#asks #multiracial #multicultural #south asian #sri lankan #senegalese #west african #identity #representation #worldbuilding #fantasy #mythology #folklore #fairies #deities #adoption #identity issues #mixed experiences #coding

[couch-sociologist]

bpd is like body horror but for your identity

#actually bpd #bpd thoughts #bpd #identity issues

[steddieunderdogfics]

Consensual Catfishing by foresthearts!!! <3

https://archiveofourown.org/works/52312297/chapters/132334945

Consensual Catfishing by foresthearts

Rating: Mature

32,108 words, 4/4 chapters

Archive Warning: No Warnings

Tags: Past harringrove and stancy but nothing current, Identity Issues, Catfishing (but not), Texting, Epistolary, Famous Steve Harrington, (basically like harry styles), Professional DM Eddie Munson, (basically like brennan lee mulligan), Roommates, Friends to Lovers, Flirting, Pining, Steddie Big Bang 2023 (Stranger Things), Modern Era, Alternate Universe

Summary:

When Eddie gets a message on instagram from an account claiming to be the famous pop-star Steve Harrington, he knows immediately it's a catfish. He's not dumb. The account has no pictures and people like Steve Harrington don't just randomly DM guys like Eddie. Still. What would be the harm in letting it play out? It's not dangerous if he knows he's being catfished. No, if he knows about it, then it's basically like a fun little roleplay. No harm, no foul. (Eddie is not, in fact, being catfished)

Thanks for the rec!

Know a fic that deserves extra love? Submit through our asks or the submission box!

#steddie fic recs #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #stranger things #modern au #rated m #friends to lovers #famous steve harrington #identity issues

[launicalucer0]

I like to be taken shoppinq is that so bad? is it? the me before she started to steal from me... my life, my energy and personality... turning me through my friends and family into a psycho manic freak, with no money, and health conditions. Shes a murderer, she believes she can write me out my life and become me. Tell me whos got identity issues?

#kept woman #spoiled #bratty #d0m/sub #soft d0m #identity theft #identity issues #dresses #flowers #solar eclipse #solarpunk #spotify #writers and poets #writerscommunity #cyber security #order of protection #protection #safety #masked #princess #ddlgprincess #ddlgkitten #ddlgsub

[gayclowns]

does anyone else have the hardest time figuring out their sexuality/romantic orientation (or is it my bpd?)

#personal #identity issues #sexuality #queer #asexual #lgbtqia+ #bpd #aromantic #arospec #aroace #aspec

[letter-22]

my three biggest kins are nimona from nimona, vee from the owl house, and lake from infinity train. two shapeshifters and a reflection. can you tell i have problems

#nimona #vee noceda #owl house #infinity train #lake infinity train #identity issues #mental illness go brrr

[flashy-mf]

I wish things were way different sometimes, but I’m scared I won’t exist anymore if that happens. I don’t want anything to change, or I’ll lose everything I am. The thought of turning into someone else terrifies me every time it happens. I don’t want to keep losing myself again and again. Please, I don’t want to die and revive anymore!! I don’t want to be replaced by another imposter.

#flashy ✨ vent #cluster b #actually cluster b #npd #actually npd #actually narcissistic #narcissistic personality disorder #identity disturbance #identity issues #fear of change #loss #grief #tw unsettling #tw pleading language

[unironicallycringe]

It's a tragedy and a joy to be many things at once. A joy to experience more of what humanity has to offer, but a tragedy in the sense that no one place feels like a concrete home. It always feels like you're lying when you try to solidify, because whatever state you become, it's never quite 100% you, is it? You are both the wavelength and the particle, so being defined as one denies the other its existence. At birth, you exchange a sense of belonging with a curse of fluidity.

I've always had trouble with my identity. Obviously. You've probably seen my writing. I've always been many things, which coalesces into feeling like I'm not much of anything. Sometimes I can forget about all that, and life is much easier. Other times I remember though, and it can be incredibly isolating. It then feeds into this fearful loop where I feel I must isolate myself further, before something scatters what little scraps I have. But then, how can anyone connect with a thing that is barely solid? How can I feel safe to connect? How can they? What if one of the things I am is something which is hated? How can I let myself be seen if being seen feels like it could be a death sentence?

I guess the vaguely correct answer to all of that is just "make art." That's always been my salve. Sometimes I forget how though, and I float for a very long time.

#i guess ursang really is my linksona #sorry i uh. got triggered badly like 10 hours ago and ive been fucked all day. #i needed to express myself but even this is partially masked. this is as close as i can get. it's an asymptote. #“hey shea what the fuck does this mean?” buddy if i knew i would tell you #identity issues #mixed race #yeah that gets rolled up in here too #shea muses aloud

[lahathena]

#this is what it's like having DID (tags on mintmatcha's posts)

mintmatcha "came back wrong" post // Trigun Maximum as translated by trigun-manga-overhaul // Final Fantasy XIV: Eden // Don't Kill The Mary Sue by Miriko as translated by forgetfulsubs // Jekyll and Hyde by FantasticPlanets // Parasite by Pumpkin Head

#web weaving #memory issues #identity issues #osddid #how do i tag this! #source: trigun #source: tumblr #source: ffxiv #source: miriko #source: fantasticplanets #source: pumpkinhead #this is MY collection of media that reflects MY experience u dont have to relate #or maybe u relate and dont even have brain weird. that's also cool. #i have to post tis or i'll go crazy it's been sitting in my drafts

[i-will-cry-you-a-river]

It wasn't like he was entirely fake. He was basically an omega, the only thing he couldn't do was to release and smell the pheromones, but who cared about that, right? He was way prettier than any omega he had ever met, he was good at staying home and being a gorgeous little eye candy, and he could even get pregnant if needed. Sure, he didn't want to get pregnant, but he could, even without being in heat, and that was the important part.

So, him, being sold to Lan Xichen as the perfect omega wife, was not-

It was fake as hell.

And now he was going to have to break the trust of the only other person he adored other than Nie Mingjue, something he never wanted to.

But how the hell he could have foreseen that it would be Lan Xichen who would buy him?! The softest, gentlest, sweetest and kindest alpha ever, who deserved the best omega wife ever, instead of the lying fake younger brother of his best friend.

"It's okay A-Sang. Xichen-ge is going to take a good care of you," Lan Xichen promised, caressing his hair as the car drove them through the city. Nie Huaisang was curled up in his lap, seeking out the warmth he had no right to feel and the lovely smell even his inferior nose could differentiate, and he sighed contently.

"Of course you will," he murmured half as an elated agreement and half as a sarcastic retort. Because Lan Xichen would do anything for his pretty omega wife he just brought for an obscene amount of money, especially when that omega wife was the supposedly kidnapped brother of his best friend.

Nie Huaisang was born as a beta. He was not the typical Nie, strong and obviously alpha even before the presentation. But, he could have been an omega. He was always sickly, loved arts and lazing around like a pretty housewife, and before the age of the presentation, he knew that was going to be his life goal: to be a pampered, prized omega of somebody who loved and adored him, somebody who would take care of him at least as good as his Da-ge did.

But he never presented.

And his dreams of becoming the trophy omega wife of a rich, adoring alpha husband was gone-

Until Nie Mingjue. Well, until Meng Yao, but that's basically the same thing. His Da-ge's lover and assistant - and, honestly, brain and better yet overall much worse half - decided they needed money for their feud with the Wens.

The Plan was to "kidnap" and "sell" Nie Huaisang to the highest bidder, and save him just after the transaction and before he could leave with his "new owner". It would have been easy. Meng Yao and Nie Huaisang were a terrifying and efficient team, it would have been an effortless task for them.

What they didn't count on was Lan Xichen and his annoyingly honorable self.

Nobody counted on that the man would want to help Nie Mingjue's "search" for his didi when he had other things to worry about. (Like his own didi and his omega not-wife.) Nor that he would actually find Nie Huaisang. And especially not that he would literally make Nie Huaisang the world's most expensive omega with his relentless pursuit to be the one who could buy Nie Huaisang and take him home.

That man was unreal.

And now that unreal, ridiculous, amazing, honorable and kind man was his alpha.

"Xichen-ge," he started, "why did you-?"

"Because..." Lan Xichen hesitated, his hand stopping its soothing motions. The fake omega whined, bumping his head into the gentle hand until the fingers returned to their soft scratches.

"So unreasonable," Nie Huaisang teased with a tiny giggle, but it really was unreasonable. He could have left him there. He could have called Da-ge. He could have done anything except for buying a useless, fake omega. (Well, he didn't know that part, but he didn't need to buy an omega! He was The Lan Alpha!)

"Being reasonable didn't get me were I wanted so far." He smiled, but it was something different from his usual ones. It was- darker, somehow. His smiles were always so neutrally pleasant, so pretty and empty, but that one... That one made Nie Huaisang's world shift and his heart beat faster.

"And being unreasonable did?"

The fingers tightened, lightly pulling on Nie Huaisang's hair, just enough it could be felt. "I have you now, don't I?"

Nie Huaisang's breath hitched and he swallowed back his moan. Lan Xichen as a dangerous individual was just too attractive for a pretty little beta like him to handle.

(This fic was brought to you by this post. I just had to.)

#nie huaisang #lan xichen #xisang #xisangweek2023 #mentioned nieyao #ftm nhs #mdzs #identity issues

[aziraphales-library]

Idk if it has been before, but can I rec ‘Heart & Shoal’ by Zehwulf (art by sightkeeper)? It’s a lovely fic which places folklore into a modern setting and creates the most amazing comforting story with it. To me, reading it feels like going on a relaxing cosy summer holiday to Tadfield, myself.

You can indeed, thank you for the rec!...

Heart & Shoal by ZehWulf (T)

More than the loss of the skin—which was enough of a problem to be getting on with, thank you—the problem was, Aziraphale had done the wrong thing. If he could say to Gabriel that he'd simply seen a creature in distress and decided to help, he might not be forgiven, but he probably wouldn't be cast out. But, knowingly saving a human from drowning was beyond the pale. He was meant to be spying on them, not helping them. OR Aziraphale is a selkie whose lost skin is somewhere in the village of Tadfield; Crowley is a fay who considers Tadfield his personal garden to cultivate and protect. They're drawn to each other, but neither is willing to divulge their secret. Naturally, a lot of inconvenient feelings and small-town hijinks ensue anyway.

- Mod D

#good omens #ineffable husbands #fantasy au #selkie aziraphale #fae crowley #identity issues #mod d

[probablyhuntersmom]

The change in his body language, pre-Hollow Mind vs. post-Hollow Mind. He lost his smile

#toh spoilers #the owl house #toh #toh hunter #hunter wittebane #ptsd #identity issues #trauma #abuse #hunter's arc #pre hollow mind #post hollow mind

[fuckingwhateverdude]

4.19.23

#thinking ab things #will not elaborate further #my writing #my writing tag #poetry #original poem #identity issues #past trauma #mental illness #vent writing #spilled ink

[evilhorse]

You’re not the only one dealing with identity issues.

(Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3)

#alan scott: the green lantern #green lantern #alan scott #the spectre #jim corrigan #identity issues #buddies? #tim sheridan #cian tormey #dc comics #comics #2020s comics

[dumbfaetrash]

I have been brought down into Borderlands Hyperfixation Hell and I need my boys to suffer in fanfiction. And by my boys, I mostly mean Timothy Lawrence.

Need me some toxic ass shit in which Timothy is just fully corrupted by Jack. To the point where he can’t separate his own personality and thoughts from Jack’s, and has started to find genuine enjoyment in the crazed, sadistic things Jack does. He can’t remember ever being any other way. He knows his name used to be Timothy, but that doesn’t even matter to him because he’s just Jack now (or Other-Jack when talking to Jack)

In other words, let me process my identity issues and trauma through this man acsgdbdb

#borderlands #timothy lawrence #handsome jack #identity issues #trauma #look i need my blorbo to suffer for my entertainment #does he derserve it? #absolutely not #but i desperately need to read his corruption arc

[ghostisventing]

I find myself disgusted/uncomfortable/scared of men and idk if it’s the trauma or am I just not attracted to men?

#am I nonbinary #wtf is wrong with me why does everything feel fake even liking girls but that’s not fake wtf #identity crisis #identity issues #bpd #social anxiety #lesbian #bisexual #bisexual women #sapphic #pls help #non binary lesbian #non binary bisexual #vent #am i a lesbian #questioning