I don't look middle American but not enough like Non middle American

It's been a very interesting experience to submit for specific ethnic roles. In some ways the diversity represented among the Extras at any given job is impressive.  The casting companies make it a point to have reasonable representation of the major ethnicities (Asian, Hispanic, Black).  But my submissions for very specific ethnic roles just don't catch.  The casting companies seem to be looking for more stereotypical ethnic looking people.  My own feeling is that I know I don't look middle American but I also don't look totally Mexican or any other specific ethnicity for that matter.  My height for one throws people off right away. If I did look Mexican or Eastern Indian or Middle Eastern, or Mediterranean, or Central European (guesses by a whole host of people throughout my life), I don't think people would ask me so often--"Just what ethnicity are you?"  I'm different looking enough to pique people's interest but not exotic enough to be representative for any specific ethnicity. I also don't have any kind of foreign accent and I don't speak Spanish either.  At this late date, even if I learned a foreign language, I doubt I could speak with any authentic accent. So I feel kind of stuck in limbo land as far as submitting for ethnic specific parts. My culture is more academic nerd which doesn't exactly translate to many parts. Maybe it's just super competitive for those jobs and I'm making something out of nothing but I can't help but feel that my intuition about this is on target.  Especially as I now look more carefully at TV, movies, and print work of people who do get those roles.

It's kind of the same feeling with the whole Social Economic Status roles too.  I'm clearly not working class but also not high class.  I doubt I will every get those high class, wealthy type roles.  I met a woman yesterday who is just the embodiment of what, at least I think, casting directors are looking for.  I will never be able to achieve that look without a lot of help with hair, make up, and wardrobe. It's a world I don't have a lot of experience in. So I feel like I can't even get my foot in the door for those roles given my profile pictures.  I am happy with the roles I am getting and am getting steady work but this has been an interesting observation.  Not the first time this has crossed my mind for sure, but it brings it to the forefront in a way it hadn't been before.