--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was afraid of Sonya being defined by…" description: "\"I was afraid of Sonya being defined by her sexuality because that's not fair to her. I don't want Sonya to be defined by who she loves.\" — Sonya Deville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/sonya-deville-10099_afraid_i-was-afraid-of-sonya-being-defined-by-h_2734043.jpg" --- # I was afraid of Sonya being defined by her sexuality… ![“I was afraid of Sonya being defined by her sexuality because that's not fair to her. I don't want Sonya to be defined by who she loves.” quote by Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/sonya-deville-10099_afraid_i-was-afraid-of-sonya-being-defined-by-h_2734043.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/sonya-deville-10099_afraid_i-was-afraid-of-sonya-being-defined-by-h_2734043.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/sonya-deville-10099_afraid_i-was-afraid-of-sonya-being-defined-by-h_2734043.jpg) > “I was afraid of Sonya being defined by her sexuality because that's not fair to her. I don't want Sonya to be defined by who she loves.” [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She worries that Sonya will be reduced to her sexual orientation, which would be unfair and limiting. **In simple terms:** She wants Sonya seen beyond her sexuality. Key Takeaway Avoid defining people solely by one aspect of their identity. Themes identity fairness representation media LGBTQ+ Mood empathetic reflective Type social advocacy When to use this quote - media interviews - social media profiles - public speaking - personal branding Key Concepts stereotype avoidance personal dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can media responsibly portray complex identities? - What steps ensure respectful representation? A Different Perspective People may still be reduced to labels despite efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Not fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-fair/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want it to be Sonya Deville, the gay wrestler. I want it to be Sonya Deville, the awesome performer who happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-don-t-want-it-to-be-sonya-deville-the-gay-wrestler-i-want-it-to-be/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [It's important to not have my sexuality define me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/it-s-important-to-not-have-my-sexuality-define-me/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but if you would have asked the younger me to get a tattoo that symbolized my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but-if-you-would-have-asked-the/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [If I remember back to when I wasn't open about my sexuality, I spent a great deal of time worried about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open-about-my-sexuality-i-spent-a/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [I don't know if people question my sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/i-don-t-know-if-people-question-my-sexuality/) [Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/) > [My sexuality has never been a problem to me but I think it has been for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-springfield/my-sexuality-has-never-been-a-problem-to-me-but-i-think-it-has-been/) [Dusty Springfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-springfield/) > [The police or any higher authority should never try and criminalise people for their sexuality. It is something that is to great extent given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhimanyu-singh/the-police-or-any-higher-authority-should-never-try-and-criminalise/) [Abhimanyu Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhimanyu-singh/) > [being homosexual doesn't determine a man's whole character any more than being heterosexual does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/being-homosexual-doesn-t-determine-a-man-s-whole-character-any-more/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“When it comes to the crunch, coming out is the greatest of all confessions. Nothing is more difficult to acknowledge. When we become ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witi-ihimaera/when-it-comes-to-the-crunch-coming-out-is-the-greatest-of-all/) [Witi Ihimaera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witi-ihimaera/) > [I used to be gay, but I was forced to give it up, because it made my eyes water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-used-to-be-gay-but-i-was-forced-to-give-it-up-because-it-made-my/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [ “\[Bisexuality\] is seen as threatening the homosexual/heterosexual and male/female dichotomies, or binarisms, which underpin our gender and sexual identities to such a large extent.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dunphy/bisexuality-is-seen-as-threatening-the-homosexual-heterosexual-and/) [Richard Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dunphy/) > [Maybe I've limited my opportunities by being so open about my sexuality, but my thinking is that, if I come out of the gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/maybe-i-ve-limited-my-opportunities-by-being-so-open-about-my/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I've never hidden my sexuality from anyone - my whole life, in fact - and I've been waiting for someone to ask about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristian-nairn/i-ve-never-hidden-my-sexuality-from-anyone-my-whole-life-in-fact-and/) [Kristian Nairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristian-nairn/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) ## More by Sonya Deville > [I look up to and have learned a lot from the women before me. With that said, there has never been a woman in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-look-up-to-and-have-learned-a-lot-from-the-women-before-me-with/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [It's important to not have my sexuality define me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/it-s-important-to-not-have-my-sexuality-define-me/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [From a very early age, I realized why I was put on this planet: to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/from-a-very-early-age-i-realized-why-i-was-put-on-this-planet-to-fight/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I have a theory that confidence comes from self-worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-have-a-theory-that-confidence-comes-from-self-worth/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I do feel pressure, but I put it on myself because I want to represent the LGBTQ community in a place where they've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-do-feel-pressure-but-i-put-it-on-myself-because-i-want-to-represent/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I just think I'm very honest and I say how I feel. Some people like that about me. Some people hate that about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-just-think-i-m-very-honest-and-i-say-how-i-feel-some-people-like/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [When I was 14 years old, I said, 'Mom, I want to fight MMA.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/when-i-was-14-years-old-i-said-mom-i-want-to-fight-mma/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [Sonya is the way she is for a reason and I love enlightening the fans on what those things are because so many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/sonya-is-the-way-she-is-for-a-reason-and-i-love-enlightening-the-fans/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [It's not a good feeling to hide a huge part of your life. If you were meant to be somebody else, you'd be somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/it-s-not-a-good-feeling-to-hide-a-huge-part-of-your-life-if-you-were/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [To force something that was not organic to who I am was tough on me, and so I can relate to all those girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/to-force-something-that-was-not-organic-to-who-i-am-was-tough-on-me/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but if you would have asked the younger me to get a tattoo that symbolized my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but-if-you-would-have-asked-the/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [Acting is my love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/acting-is-my-love/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I've never dealt with really anything negative in the WWE as a whole, in the locker room, anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-never-dealt-with-really-anything-negative-in-the-wwe-as-a-whole/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I think back to when I was in high school, to 17-year old Daria, who was dating guys and thought that that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-think-back-to-when-i-was-in-high-school-to-17-year-old-daria-who/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I'm the first-ever openly gay female in the WWE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-m-the-first-ever-openly-gay-female-in-the-wwe/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) [Explore all 68 Sonya Deville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was afraid of Sonya being defined by her sexuality because that's not fair to her. 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