Not Black Nor White
By Mauraya Sharma
Over time, I have come to realize that most people fall on a spectrum of what I refer to as "the grey-scale." Human beings aren't one-dimensional as a larger proportion of people identify with aspects that are much more nuanced. However, we continue segregating people based on standard stereotypical titles; for instance 'gay' and 'straight' or 'atheists' and 'religious extremists' or 'democratic' and 'fascist'. While we recognize that most people identify as somewhere closer to one binary or another, there is this vast spectrum of people that exist in between; in reality, presenting a complex number of diverse perspectives that adhere to both extremes, yet only to a certain extent. For instance, a law that allows a boss to fire an employee for homosexual behavior - what is the definitions of 'homosexual behavior'? What is the relationship between the employees and the boss? Most importantly, where do you draw the line? By the people who have had one or two heterosexual experiences so far? Or by the people who have only had one or two homosexual experiences so far? Where exactly does one have the right to be classified to one binary or the other? What truly defines us in these categories?
Furthermore, what about the 'in between-the-lines' boys who like 'feminine' haircuts but love growing 'masculine' beards or the girls who paint their fancy nails but dress in a 'masculine 'demeanour. There are some Hindus who read the bible. There are some religious people that never take part in traditional religious activities. There are some people who belong not to one specific culture or location but are now called the urban culture. There are girls who like girls and boys, and there are boys who like boys and girls. So why is everything so forcefully differentiated?
Another night ends and day breaks, yet these questions remain perched on our eyelashes and constantly churning in our guts. We cannot let go of them.
The "grey" lives in light and shadow, it is both in the home as much as it looks out into the world. It feels with its heart and its mind. It is both tender and strong, masculine and feminine. It is one, both and neither of the two extremes. It makes us look for answers. It tells us stories of these dualities and the lives that are nor black, nor white but rather everything in between.