Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Blog: 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 micro aggression?

One example of a microaggression that I found myself as the target of was when I was the program director of a children's center. I had been speaking to a photographer on the phone about our upcoming appointment for the children's annual photos and when we finally met, she looked at me from head to toes and said "You, I was expecting a middle age white woman to be the director, well, at least you speak good English". 

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

This experience made me realize that sometimes we discriminate, pass judgement, and hurt others with certain comments that we make without being aware. I know that I am guilty of doing so, but this activity has helped to be more aware of how I communicate with others and how certain comments can offend or hurt others. I will try my best to choose my words wisely. 

                          

                 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Blog Assignment: Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Monica

Monica is a 22 years old 3rd generation Mexican American. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. When asked what she thought about diversity and culture, Monica said:

"Diversity and culture is what makes people who they are, including their differences and similarities. People come from different cultural backgrounds and with them, they bring different talents and that is the beauty of it all because we can learn from each other".

Tony

Tony is a 64 year old African American man from Chicago. He said that Diversity includes people from different places with different beliefs, religions, foods, clothing, and costumes and that being able to accept people for what they are is essential. He said that culture is not only what is seen on the outside, but also the things that one does on the daily. 

Maria

Maria is a 35 year old woman who was born here, but her parents are from Colombia. 

"Culture is the costumes and beliefs that people have" and diversity is the things that make people different from one another". 

The aspects of culture that were included are that the three people that I asked about diversity and culture stated that diversity and culture is what makes people who they are and that it includes the differences and similarities including their beliefs, talents, foods, customs, and what they have on the inside and not only what's on the surface.

Some of the aspects have been omitted are language, artifacts, intergenerational relationships, gender roles, work, roles, and how emotion is shown which are elements of surface and deep culture (Derma-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). 

People's definition of culture and diversity influences me in the ways that I can see more clearly that we all have different definitions of what these two terms mean. There are some similarities, but we see things from a different point of view because of the way that we were brought up and the experiences that we have experienced. Understanding even that can help us to understand each individual person better. 

                                                                     Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education: for young children and ourselves.    Washington, DC:    National Association for the Education of Young Children. 

My Family Culture

Imagine the following:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

• A description of the three items you would choose

The three items that I would take are:

1. Family picture album

2. Camera

3. Frame of my college degree

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

Our family picture album means a lot to us because it contains many fond memories lived through pictures. The camera is what it is used to capture the unforgettable moments and starting all over in another country would mean new memories to capture and share with the future generations. My college degree would serve as a reminder to my children of the importance of an education and the struggles and sacrifices that our family went through for me to receive it. 

• 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

The feelings that I have are of sadness and frustration because that means that I have to give up two of the only three things that I have left and that remind me of my life back home.

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

I have learned that I really do not have any family heirlooms and that I do live in the moment and capture our memories through the many pictures that I take. I also value education and would like to pass that down to my children. I also want my children to be able to share those photos with their children in the future. I do not have but two pictures of myself when I was little and my own family does not value education, therefore I think that those experiences with my own family have influenced the way that I feel about capturing as many memories and how I feel about education.