Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

                      Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 

Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

An example of a microagression that I experienced was just recently when my son turned 17 years old and we went out to look for a car for him.  I chose to get him a car on his 17^th birthday instead of his 18^th birthday.  We went to a car dealership and there we were greeted by an elderly Caucasian gentleman. Before we even began looking at cars he stated that we may want to visit another dealership because the price ranges for the cars on the lot may not fit my income.  I was shocked because he just assumed because we were African American and I was a female that I would not be able afford a car there.  I politely said that we would still like to look.  While looking around at various cars, he followed us around even though there were other people waiting to see him, or as if to rush us out of the place.  We finally found a car that my son liked and told the salesman that we had made a decision.  We went back into his office and while doing the paperwork he asked me about my income and if that was the only income I had and I said yes.  He said you have a pretty big son, he looks like he can play football, that might bring in some extra income if he is any good and goes pro.  We politely excused ourselves and ended up going to another dealership.  I felt insulted not just for myself but also for my son. People judge people based on their own assumptions which create racial conflicts among people.   

 

In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people.

I know that there are still prejudice people out here who discriminate for no reason.  There are some African American people as well as other nationalities that are also prejudice.  For this reason we have to prepare ourselves to deal with these types of negative situations or circumstances.  I am a strong woman with morals and values and I feel that I would be willing to deal with this negativity.  By being an early childhood professional I have to be a positive role model for the young children that I work with, therefore I am glad that I am able to positively deal with various stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice situations that I encounter. 

 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 

My assignment for this week was to take the opportunity and talk with friends and family and get a perspective of how they view diversity and culture.

Evangeline Leak – Friend – A Nurse

Diversity – I view diversity as differences as well as similarities in people.  Diversity not only views what we see on the surface but what we see underneath and within the surface. 

Culture – Culture is a set of behavioral patterns, traditions, values, experiences and assumptions that a social groups shares.  All cultures are different, yet similar in some ways.  Most times everything we do is influenced by culture. 

 

Clarissa Monley – Sister

Diversity – Various types of people who share different viewpoints and ideas.  This exchange allows them to see other sides of issues which are important to them. The differences may include gender, ethnic background, race, religion and language. 

Culture – A culture is a group of people who share behaviors that are learned and handed down through the generations.  Cultures are responsive to various social realities around them.  

 

Jacqueline Foland – A different race

Diversity – My opinion of diversity is various differences in cultures.  It could be social, physical, or even intellectual.  Things such as level of education, opinions, or just basically a natural understanding of things.  Other examples could be skin color, gender, clothing, or in some societies for example wearing hats are not seen as being respectful, but disrespectful. 

Culture - A group of people who share knowledge, traditions, behaviors and values that are inherited from generation to generation. 

 

The people that I talked to all basically had somewhat the same view of diversity and culture.  Most of them spoke of the surface aspect of culture and diversity and not anything beneath that.   All aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied so far in this course were included in the answers that I received.  Some examples included diversity meaning skin color, clothing, language, etc., and culture meaning different people who hand down family traditions throughout generations.

Deep culture was omitted from any of the responses that I received. Deep culture involves elements that deal with feelings and attitudes we learn by being a member of a specific group.  It also involves the thoughts and beliefs, the personal values, and the subtle gradations of interpersonal relationships as expressed in actions and words, by day-by-day details of life as it is lived. 

After hearing other people’s meanings of diversity and culture, I have come to realize that basically we all generally view the aspects of diversity and culture in pretty much the same way.  The people I talked with see the general aspects whereas before taking this class that was all that I saw.  I now have a deeper understanding of both, which will allow me to broaden my learning strategies when working with children and families from various cultures.    

  

 

My Family Culture

 

MY FAMILY CULTURE

 

Having to relocate to another country with a culture completely different from your own can be interesting, exciting and scary all at the same time.  You will have to learn to accept another type of society and culture into your daily life.  You have to learn other points of view, make new friends, and accept various opinions, values and traditions. 

That being said, the three things that I would take with me would include: 

A description of the three items you would choose

 

1.    Family photo album – Family is important to me and this album holds many memories of the family throughout generations. 

2.    My wedding ring – It is a 12-carat wedding ring with sparking diamonds.   

 

3.    A family painting by my grandmother – A painting that my grandmother painted of my immediate family, very colorful and very beautiful at the age of 85 years old. 

How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you 

 

Family photo album - I would explain that family is important in my culture. We learn much from each other and we share joys as well as sorrows.  Even though family ties sometimes bring difficult challenges, they also give us strength and some of our greatest happiness. 

 

My wedding ring - I would explain that this ring is an ongoing reminder of the promise that my husband has made to me as well as the promise that God has made to both of us.

A family painting by my grandmother – I would explain that this painting was done by someone close to my heart and was given to husband and me on our first wedding anniversary.

 

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you.

 

I would be very sad at first because these are the things closets to my heart besides my family.  I have come to realize that my family means more to me than anything else in the world, and everything else are only material things.

 

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise.

 

I have come to realize even now than before that other than God, my family is one of the most important aspects of my life.  God willing, I will always be there when my children need me regardless of situations or circumstances.  I will teach my children to always respect and value all cultures no matter how different they are.  Every culture is importance and should be respected no matter what.