At a discussion Wednesday evening, students explored the dangers of allowing others to project unauthentic characteristics of their identity.

The event, which took place in the Leverett House Fairfax Common Room, was part of the new Co-Existing Self discussion series, which is sponsored by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations and Harvard College Women’s Center.

The small group shared stories about the different roles individuals play at Harvard and the troubles of what they termed as a modern-day version of ‘passing’.

“I would define ‘passing’ as presenting one’s self in a way that may or may not be accurate or authentic” said Grace L. Chen ’15, one of the organizers of the event. Chen said that sometimes an individual will turn certain parts of his or her identity on or off, depending on certain circumstances.

Discussion began with an activity encouraging individuals to display which of four broad categories—academic, social, extracurricular, or residential life—participants felt most comfortable in.

Afterwards, students were asked which of the same four areas they felt that they ‘passed’ most into—which category they felt most compelled to act in certain unauthentic ways because of outside perceptions or expectations others have of them.

Individuals shared stories about assumptions others place on them based on their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, or sexual orientation.