A woman in a purple and green costume with a purple and green parasol. She is wearing a headress of purple and green feathers.

Identities and Perspectives

by maharanifaleiro | Dec 6, 2024 | My Journey, My Story

Maharani Faleiro

Joy-focused mentorship,
companionship & learning for
transformation and transitions

I hold several marginalized and privileged identities that have provided me with unique experiences and perspectives which allow me to see many sides of a situation.

mandala with a red downward pointing triangle. "Love" is in the center and is surrounded with joy, honesty, reverence, curious, authentic, sovereign. small petalled purple flowers are amongst the words.

Who Am I Mandala. Original by Maharani Faleiro

As a result of my life circumstances, I have learned to move skillfully in and out of marginalized and privileged identities.

I am frequently the odd one out. Until I began the practice of decoloniality, I believed that it simply was my personality. Now, it is still uncertain which of my identities elicits the reaction of people to push me to the periphery and /or erase me.

Nevertheless, the outsider/marginalized experience has given me a big picture perspective and deep insights into societies and communities that most people don’t have.

An Asian school girl is sitting on the window sill reading. Behind her down the corridor is a group of girls looking at her.

Image by @cottonbro on Pexels

I have been a child of Indian migrant workers in Kuwait (Third Culture Kid), an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. and now am a U.S. citizen. I am the first member of my nuclear family to earn a college degree, get a Ph.D., and to hold an academic position in a Medical School. I was in a mixed-race marriage and I live as an “ex-pat” in Bahrain. I also lived in Ireland as a sole parent & immigrant for 3 years. Currently, I am now coming to terms with my neurodivergence. I realize that I had found ways to cope, accommodate, and mask to “get on with life” as marginalized people must do.