Two Spirit and LGBT Native Americans | Page 6

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Straight cisgender white people, especially men, are usually not forced to think about their role in society; most things are scripted for them. Expectations, their place in the world, and how that world sees them are predetermined, and even reinforced by society (in the media, in literature, or even in schools). However, when someone is "different," when someone belongs to a minority, this is not the case. Members of both visible and non-visible minorities (racial, ethnic, religious minorities; minorities in terms of gender, sexual orientation, and so forth) usually do not have such a script to rely on. Even if society and the conditions have changed in the last couple of decades, they still constantly have to think and improvise when it comes to figuring out their place in society and how to relate to themselves and others. Moreover, when someone belongs to two or more of these minorities, like LGBT or Two Spirit Native Americans, their situation becomes even more complex and complicated.