MySpace and MyIdentity

MySpace is a curious invention. The "social utility/networking" (re: stalking) site reveals more than you probably ever wanted to know about your friends, family and complete strangers.

It also reveals a great deal about how we define ourselves. I have several family members and friends of Arab descent on the website. Interestingly, it seems that when it comes to the dreaded 'race' box, we all see ourselves differently. As previously mentioned, I have a white (Italian) mother and an Egyptian father (who, like many Egyptians, also has Sudanese roots). As I've done for much of my life when asked race, I picked 'other,' because I don't feel comfortable adhering to just one choice. Several cousins (who are completely Egyptian) mark Black/African descent, while others mark Middle Eastern. All of these, in my eyes, seem like reasonable answers to the question posed.

Then it gets a little tricky. One cousin and one friend of mine happen to be half white and half Arab (Scottish/Egyptian and Italian/Syrian, respectively). Both of them opted to choose White/Caucasian when prompted for their race. Granted, according to the current definition offered by the US government, Arabs and North Africans are lumped into that category (something that I've previously argued is ridiculous since in American society very few of us benefit from "white privilege" ) and if given no other option on a college application, I can understand (but not agree with) choosing that distinction. That said, the option for Middle Eastern exists. Even if you are half European - how are you not, at the very least, Middle Eastern?

Is this some sort of nuevo-passing for the 21st century? Pretty deep stuff for a website that exists to help you kill time at work.