Being one of five Asian American students at my predominantly Caucasian high school, I failed to recognize the importance of cultural identity. Many textbooks excluded notable figures with whom I could connect with, while the policies and teaching practices failed to address the lack of diversity amongst the student population. As the years progressed, I moved further away from my Filipino roots in order to assimilate to school culture while continually feeling the pressure to live up to the “model minority” stereotype. Unfortunately, equitable representation for marginalized groups has been a long-standing issue in society, particularly in education with many schools falling short of any standard of inclusivity. With that, many students are left out of mainstream narrative, unable to see themselves as a valuable part of society.
Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with author, community activist, and former Miss South Carolina, Megan Gordan, to discuss her story and the importance of representation for female students of color in education and the media.
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Archetype Collective: Hi Megan! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us about such a relevant topic and the true meaning of representation.
Megan Gordon: Absolutely! It’s always a pleasure chatting with you.
AC: Alright, so let’s jump right in: Tell me about where you grew up and what school was like for you.
MG: So, I grew up in a small town called North Augusta, right there on the border of South Carolina and Georgia. Overall, school was pretty great—tough at times but, hey it was high school right? Being the outgoing cheerleader that I was, I made friends with just about everyone and genuinely wanted to learn more about them. The school population itself was fairly diverse and because of that I was able to become a little more culturally aware.
AC: Good to hear. When I was growing up, I went to a small private school and most, if not all my friends, were white. Not saying that it was a bad thing, by any means, but I occasionally felt like the odd man out.
MG: That’s interesting because I also spent my earlier years in a private school. I was the only black girl in my class—the only black child period [laughs]. Still a great experience because not only did I learned so much but since I was the only minority at school, it really pushed me out of my comfort zone to get to know people that didn’t look like me.
AC: Likewise! Ok so let’s talk about role models. Aside from your family, who did you look up to when you were younger?
MG: Since I spent so much time at school, I really looked up to my teachers because they took the time to encourage me both inside and outside of the classroom. I was always the kind of student to sit in the front and raise my hand, even if I got the answer wrong [laughs]. Many of them would point out my talents and truly help me cultivate them, making me believe that I could do anything!
AC: Let’s discuss that a little more. You said earlier that your school population was diverse in terms of the student body, but could you say the same thing about the teachers, administrative staff, or even the things you would learn about in the classroom? Basically, did you see diversity on all levels?
MG: I honestly would say no. The textbooks were very outdated and not as inclusive as they should be, especially when it came to American history. I think it very important for us to learn not just about Black history, but also about Native American history, the struggles and triumphs of the Latinx population, and what the Asian community has contributed to society. Just in general, [education] lacks those key components that are incredibly important to the narrative of this country. And unfortunately, I think many of our resources shy away from that side of history because it is shameful and people want to move on, even those who have been and still are affected by it. Since they were my ancestors and it is so important for me to face the hard truth and learn about where I came from. So, while it is crucial to learn about what the Caucasian population has done, we still need to shed light on other contributing cultures to get a better understanding of who we are, both as individuals and as a nation.
AC: Totally agree. I feel that as humans it can be very difficult to look at your own past, especially when it depicts an ugly truth. But let’s talk about the flip side: Did you learn about any specific person that had a positive impact on your life?
MG: There was one time in my English class where my teacher gave us the opportunity to choose our own book to read and report on, so naturally I wanted to choose a novel by an author that looked like me. This book happened to be I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing by the brilliant Maya Angelou. To read something by someone so prolific and yet vulnerable enough to tell her story and discuss her trauma, truly inspired me to reach new heights in my own life.
AC: Ok, so all this brings me to my next question: Why do you think it was so important for you as a female student of color to have this moment of representation and to finally see yourself in writing and education?
MG: So, there’s a saying, “if you can see it, then you can become it” and that is so true, especially for underrepresented students. As a woman, I’m already told that I’m are inferior, that I can’t do certain jobs, and that I’m too emotional to be a leader. I’m told all these things that box me in, then on top of that, not only a woman but I’m a black woman. There are so many dynamics that unless you are a black woman, you just don’t understand the issues specific to us. Because of this, it is so important to celebrate such influential people with whom you can identify…and the only person that can truly relate to the struggles of a black woman is another black woman—and that’s no shade to white educators, that’s no shade to male educators…I’m just saying that [black women] need that level of representation too! That’s what our black students need to see. They need to not just see a black, female educator but a black, female educator who is doing the most to inspire her class to reach beyond what they think they can accomplish. Unfortunately, we are lacking in this aspect and we need to work harder to place these people in visible leadership positions for everyone to see, not just the black students.
AC: Exactly! That builds a broader definition of inclusivity, helping people understand that at the end of the day, we are all just humans. We have similar struggles, similar stories, and that we all deserve to have our voices heard. With that, do you feel we have enough representation of all marginalized communities in education or in society in general—and I’m not talking about just students of color, but students with disabilities, different socioeconomic backgrounds, et cetera?
MG: First, hats off to all these companies, organizations, and school districts who have made huge strides in putting their pride aside and educating themselves about the importance of inclusivity and diversity. That said, I think many companies have reached a point of calling themselves inclusive by simply having the one minority at the table. This is even evident in another part of my life: pageantry. For the past 10 years, I’ve competed in numerous systems, and often it felt like “well, we have a black girl in the top five, so we can consider ourselves diverse.” But it can’t just be about meeting a quota and having the one black girl or the one black guy or the one Asian guy at the table. Instead, we need to show these minority communities that they can be the ones in charge. Let’s be honest: we’ve made some progress, but we have a long way to go. These organizations and school districts need to stop saying “we’ve hired the three minorities we need to look diverse” but rather take into consideration the quality of these individuals and provide them the opportunity to have positions of leadership in order to continue the progression of promoting positive visibility for marginalized groups.
AC: I completely agree. Like you said earlier, even something as simple of saying, “this person looks like me and they’re doing amazing things, maybe I can do that too” can have such a huge impact. That is such a strong message for students feel like they could never achieve anything due to the circumstances that they’ve been given. So, Megan, what is your message to those girls who still feel unseen and unheard?
MG: First, I want to let them know that they are not alone. Being a woman of color, I have gone through the same struggles they have and even to this day, I need to remind myself that I am here with purpose. Second, for me personally, I lean heavily on faith. I know I can’t look to organizations, society, or even my family for that validation. Rather, God has poured into me my identity, using people like you to bring me joy and purpose. With all that, I know that regardless of my skin color or gender…no matter my failures or achievements, I am secure in my faith. Lastly, I encourage these girls to stand up and speak out for what they believe in…because there are other girls just waiting to stand by you!
AC: Okay, let’s wrap things up: Any last thoughts that you want to share? I know you’ve started this movement called Living for One. Do you want to tell me about that?
MG: Yes! Living for One is still in the early phases, but I feel like I’ve been doing it all my life…I just finally put a name on it. [laughs] As I was saying earlier, people all over the world are just searching for a sense of belonging and Living for One helps remedy this by inspiring young women through workshops, events, and daily affirmations while reminding them there is a greater plan for their lives and that when we serve others, they can find their purpose and identity.
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About Megan
Megan Gordon, native of South Carolina, began her work in the modeling and pageant industries over ten years ago and has been featured in various international magazines, commercials, and campaigns. During her pageant career, she's been honored to serve as Miss Collegiate America 2014, Miss South Carolina USA 2017 (finishing as a Top 5 Miss USA contestant) and Miss World South Carolina (finishing as first runner-up to Miss World America)!
Through her experiences, Gordon learned the importance of uplifting those around her and helping other women tap into their God- given identity and purpose in life. This passion led to her first book, The Ultimate Crown: Living for the Audience of One and a movement called Living for One where she has volunteered at several organizations and hosted her own workshops encouraging people from all walks of life. “Through Living for One,” Gordon says, “I have found my life’s purpose in serving others.”
Megan enjoys traveling the world, being a nurse at her community's local surgery center, serving at her church, and using her social media platforms to inspire and motivate people in becoming their best selves.
For more information about Megan or to order a copy of her book, visit: www.MeganAGordon.com
Be a part of the Living for One movement via Instagram: @LivingFor.One
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