I regularly leave my comfort zone when tackling physical tasks. But when bringing up topics that I am uneducated in, I freeze up. In the Miseducation of Cameron Post we read about a young girl discovering her sexuality as being part of the LGBTQ+ community while growing up in a strict conservative town. Though my town was not conservative, my household was. Similar to Cameron I grew up in an extremely religious household where being anything but straight was considered a sin. My mother would forbid me from saying the word “gay,” explaining it was a bad word and anything associated with this word is wrong. When I was young I did not know better and blindly believed my mother’s sentiment for she was my only reliable adult figure present in my life. Similar to Cameron, my father passed away when I was young and our lives changed a lot because of this. Maybe Cameron would not have grown up in a religious household; I would not if my father was in my life. It was not until I reached middle school did I realize just how wrong my mother’s teachings were. I learned from my friends and older sister that one’s sexual orientation does not define their identity, and to discriminate against them simply because of who they love is wrong. I am ashamed to admit the fact that I did not grow up with an inclusive mindset but proud to deviate from this. I was hesitant to write about this novel because of my fear that I may accidentally say something offensive when I do not mean it. I am extremely uneducated when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community and definitely wish to learn more.
In middle school, not only did I open my eyes and accept those from this community, but I also learned about the horrors they have to face due to the disapproval from society. I learned how adolescents can be sent to conversion camps in hopes that they will become straight. In the novel, Cameron is sent to the conversion camp, God’s Promise, after her crush Coley reveals to Aunt Ruth of Cameron’s orientation. Aunt Ruth believes this camp can “treat” Coley even saying “The priority is getting you better” (pg 295) after Cameron told Ruth not to postpone her wedding. Reading about Cameron’s time at the camp had me infuriated. The teachings at God’s Promise made Mark so confused with himself that it led him to cut his genitals off and pour bleach over the wounds hoping it would end his life. It is mental and psychological torture they have to face just because a part of their identity is not accepted by society. The teachings were essentially telling the kids that their identity is flawed and the only way to fix it is by following God’s words. As a straight female I definitely do not know on a personal level how Cameron must have felt being forced to attend God’s Promise. After reading the novel, it upsets me that there are adolescents out there who have to suffer through this cruel treatment for not being accepted.
Another reason I struggled to write about this novel was because of the turbulent relationships Cameron had with her friends before attending the camp. I myself have had a strong relationship with my childhood and high school best friends. My friendship bonds have been stronger than my familial bonds. But I also had a much different experience with them compared to Cameron. Her childhood friend Irene and teenage friend Coley were two individuals who refused to accept Cameron for who she was after they both pursued hidden romantic relationships with Cameron. Irene bragged about her boyfriend right in front of Cameron after all of their hidden makeout sessions which really hurt Cameron in the process. Coley’s treachery sent Cameron to conversion camp which is the ultimate betrayal for Cameron. Having multiple unstable friendships must have impacted Cameron immensely, especially because Coley’s betrayal caused both emotional and mental trauma. Who I am today was influenced by the friendships I created throughout the years. If it were not for them I may have stayed in my mother’s religious bubble and would have struggled to break free.
Sindhu Avadhanula
The Miseducation of Cameron Post. New York: HarperCollins, 2012. Print. Ginsberg, Allen.
Representing Adolescence @ Pitt 