The Myth of Californian Exceptionalism (Part 1)

Christie Maly

This is Part 1 of a three-part series examining Californian Exceptionalism

And Scene: Welcome to California

What’s it like being a Californian, you might ask? I’ll tell you what it’s like: it is believing that your home is the greatest place on earth. 

My Californian journey started in 2001 when I first arrived in this world—specifically, El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, California. Within a year, my family moved to a house, and Milpitas, CA (a small city adjacent to San Jose) became home.

When I was younger, most of my time was spent in California with occasional trips to visit India in the summer. With only these two frames of reference in mind, I naively assumed that the rest of the US was like California—perfect weather, diverse cities, and progressive values.

However, in elementary school, I was starting to grasp that my home was a “cool” one. My parents and teachers would often reaffirm how our home was leading the way for the rest of the world. Silicon Valley was paving the way for technological advancement. Farms in the Central Valley were responsible for feeding most of the nation. Hollywood was entertaining the entire world. People moved to California just for a chance to share in this paradise. 

It wasn’t until middle school—when I started to visit different states—that the uniqueness of California became very apparent to me. 

I visited Washington DC and found that the weather in the summer was sweltering. I visited Utah, and, while Zion National Park was beautiful, it couldn’t compare to Yosemite with the majestic Half-Dome and Firefalls. I visited Texas and found that the cities were more spread out and the flat prairie landscape paled in comparison to the hills behind my house. I’ve gone to other states, and, no matter which place I visited, I naturally found myself comparing it to home.  

Moreover, the reactions of other people I met confirmed that California must be something special. When people would ask where I’m from, I would say, “Oh, I’m from California.” Immediately, the reactions would come “Oh wow … that’s so cool … you must go to the beach a lot.” And, though I smiled and shook my head “no”, secretly I was thrilled because these comments validated my perception that California was great! Everyone wanted to be a Californian. 

With centers for business, arts, technology, farming, and all while having perfect weather, no other place on earth could compare. California was this egalitarian society with boundless opportunities for social mobility. This state housed the change-makers and leaders of the world. I believed that California was a place of progress that was leading the country with its strong economy, care for the environment, and appreciation for diversity; moreover, I continued to believe that California had a monopoly on all of this until I came to Berkeley.

Shaver Lake Forest Area, CA

Christie with the backdrop of San Francisco Bay behind her.