Micro aggressions can be very uncomfortable for parties that are involved in them. However, to better understand what a micro aggression is I will share it's explanation. Micro aggressions are brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental, that they may be intentional or unintentionally communicated to women, to people of color, to gay/lesbians that have an insulting message behind them that often time causes severe psychological distress and harm (Laureate, 2013). With that said, I have experienced first hand micro aggressive behavior and was made to feel very uncomfortable. A few years ago I was working in a public school. At the end of every school year there was an end of year celebration. On this particular evening my fiancé and I arrived in his Mercedes Benz. To make a long story short, a past coworker asked if we sold drugs to have such a nice car. At first I was shocked, then I was angry and offended by such a statement and assumption. My fiancé on the other hand quickly inquired if he was asked that question because he is black. This coworker immediately turned red and said well of course not. Later on that evening, I had to approach this coworker about what I was feeling, because it clearly left me feeling very unsettled and uncomfortable. I explained to her that her question was quite insulting and it insinuated many things. She apologized profusely.
Clearly we live in a world with grand oppressive attitudes and beliefs. And so in some sense, this society has to begin to look at its moral spiritual connectedness with each and every one of us in which we begin to realize that the suppression/oppression of one group oppresses me and my group as well (Laureate, 2013). To be able to move forward as a society we must begin to uncover and breakdown the biases, prejudices, discriminatory acts, and stereotypical attitudes and beliefs. Its all about love, peace , and acceptance.
References:
Course Media: Laureate (2013). "Microaggressions in Everyday Life" .
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Perspectives on Diversity and Culture
An especially effective method to deepen one's grasp of any topic is to listen to and then reflect on the ideas of others. This week, I had the opportunity to use this method and ask other people what they think about diversity and culture. Interestingly the three people I interviewed had a similar views with slight variances. Each of the three people were culturally different from me, were of a different gender, and age.
The two women described culture as a mixture of many things such as: beliefs, attitudes, language, customs, and traditions. Whereas the male individual delves a little deeper and describes culture as the ideas adapted in everyday life. He believes art, food, music, gestures, and clothing describe culture.
All three individuals described diversity as a mixture of people, races, gender, religions, knowledge, and values. As the male individual so eloquently described diversity as, the different branches of the same tree.
I have studied the very aspects of culture and diversity the three individuals described. For many, the characteristics are the most obvious of things which have been mentioned by the three individuals. The formal definition refers to culture as, how particular groups of people live. It is the way we eat, sleep, talk, play, care for the sick, relate to one another, think about work, arrange our kitchens, and remember our dead (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Thus as described by the individuals it is the relationships we create with those in our culture. It is everything that we do to be a part of and fit in.
However, when we start to peel away at the layers of culture we must think of those layers that are deep within. I think it's also a lifestyle (Laureate, 2011). Culture goes far beyond what meets the eye. What the three individuals failed to point out was that culture includes everything from housing arrangements, healthcare, ideas about educations to migration.
Thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity has definitely influenced my own thinking. We have made great advancements in the United States to respect, include and adjust to the melting pot of cultures we welcome daily. Just the other evening I was watching television when a Swiffer commercial appeared. I was pleasantly surprised to see the commercial depict a family composite that is frequently seen today in society. The family consisted of an interracial couple and their biracial children. Of course for me this was exciting to see, because my son is biracial. This 3 minute commercial will allow my son to receive the message that his family is acceptable, but more importantly his differences are positively portrayed in our society. All young children first develop their self-concept within their family, getting their initial sense of place in the world from where their family is and where they fit inside it (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Thus, the commercial validated that he is recognized and positively portrayed in media and our culture.
Yet, in the same breath we still have plenty of work to do. Just recently I read in my local paper about a Muslim family that claims to have been mistreated, humiliated, and thrown out of a very famous office building that is a tourist attraction, because they were praying together. This Muslim family explained that they were not among or in view of any patrons. Allegedly to officers told them that they were not allowed to worship in this building and asked them to leave if they continued to worship. The story went on to say that the Muslim family was mistreated and humiliated in front of their children and other patrons. I can stop thinking about what the children were feeling about them selves, their culture, and most importantly their parents. Children are so impressionable and being witness to such adversity can be harmful for them. I think people forget that culture is a huge part of supporting children socially and emotionally. With that said, we still as a society and educators still have our work cut out for us. I think a principle, too, is just to be open to the fact that people are different, that you're different, and that it's important to start to uncover your own story and your own biases and how those things play out, and having an openness to the fact that people have different perspectives (Laureate, 2011). As a society and a diverse population of people, I think we have to be willing to start taking risks and starting conversations and having dialogue and being open (Laureate, 2011).
References:
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 (NAEYC).
The two women described culture as a mixture of many things such as: beliefs, attitudes, language, customs, and traditions. Whereas the male individual delves a little deeper and describes culture as the ideas adapted in everyday life. He believes art, food, music, gestures, and clothing describe culture.
All three individuals described diversity as a mixture of people, races, gender, religions, knowledge, and values. As the male individual so eloquently described diversity as, the different branches of the same tree.
I have studied the very aspects of culture and diversity the three individuals described. For many, the characteristics are the most obvious of things which have been mentioned by the three individuals. The formal definition refers to culture as, how particular groups of people live. It is the way we eat, sleep, talk, play, care for the sick, relate to one another, think about work, arrange our kitchens, and remember our dead (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Thus as described by the individuals it is the relationships we create with those in our culture. It is everything that we do to be a part of and fit in.
However, when we start to peel away at the layers of culture we must think of those layers that are deep within. I think it's also a lifestyle (Laureate, 2011). Culture goes far beyond what meets the eye. What the three individuals failed to point out was that culture includes everything from housing arrangements, healthcare, ideas about educations to migration.
Thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity has definitely influenced my own thinking. We have made great advancements in the United States to respect, include and adjust to the melting pot of cultures we welcome daily. Just the other evening I was watching television when a Swiffer commercial appeared. I was pleasantly surprised to see the commercial depict a family composite that is frequently seen today in society. The family consisted of an interracial couple and their biracial children. Of course for me this was exciting to see, because my son is biracial. This 3 minute commercial will allow my son to receive the message that his family is acceptable, but more importantly his differences are positively portrayed in our society. All young children first develop their self-concept within their family, getting their initial sense of place in the world from where their family is and where they fit inside it (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Thus, the commercial validated that he is recognized and positively portrayed in media and our culture.
Yet, in the same breath we still have plenty of work to do. Just recently I read in my local paper about a Muslim family that claims to have been mistreated, humiliated, and thrown out of a very famous office building that is a tourist attraction, because they were praying together. This Muslim family explained that they were not among or in view of any patrons. Allegedly to officers told them that they were not allowed to worship in this building and asked them to leave if they continued to worship. The story went on to say that the Muslim family was mistreated and humiliated in front of their children and other patrons. I can stop thinking about what the children were feeling about them selves, their culture, and most importantly their parents. Children are so impressionable and being witness to such adversity can be harmful for them. I think people forget that culture is a huge part of supporting children socially and emotionally. With that said, we still as a society and educators still have our work cut out for us. I think a principle, too, is just to be open to the fact that people are different, that you're different, and that it's important to start to uncover your own story and your own biases and how those things play out, and having an openness to the fact that people have different perspectives (Laureate, 2011). As a society and a diverse population of people, I think we have to be willing to start taking risks and starting conversations and having dialogue and being open (Laureate, 2011).
References:
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 (NAEYC).
Laureate
Education, Inc. (2011). Family cultures: Dynamic interaction. Perspectives on
Diversity and Equity. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
My Family Culture
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.
The
three items I would take with me would be…
1. Bible
2. Family photo album
3. Family recipes
Each of these items are extremely special,
valuable, and important to me and my culture, and if I had to explain what each
meant to me I would simply state the obvious. The bible by far would easily be explained as
my source of comfort and faith. It has
kept me going through the toughest of times. It has allowed me to see the
beauty and feel the peace in the simplest times. My family photo album would show my ever
growing family and how it has evolved over the years. The pictures would be an easy way to show
what moments of happiness, celebration, sadness, love, togetherness, and sadness
were like in my family and how they were shared. Last, but most certainly not least I would
explain that my family recipes was the glue that brought my family together
during the good times and the bad times.
Food comforted us during the most difficult of times, filled our bellies
and brightened out smiles during the good times. It was the meals that brought
us together to share what we know as our culture, love, and faith.
If upon arrival I was told that I could
only keep one personal item and had to give up the other two items, I would
without hesitation take my bible. Of
course, I would be heartbroken about leaving my pictures and recipes behind,
but my bible as I mentioned before is the source of my comfort. Not knowing where I am going or what my fate
will be. I want to make sure that my
bible is by my side to remind me to lift my spirits and guide me in the choices
I make.
I did gain some insights as a result of this
exercise. I definitely took a few days
to ponder what items I would bring with me in the event of a catastrophic even
in my country. The first on my list was
my bible because even today I rely on it to teach me to lead, to love openly,
and how to keep order in my life. Yet,
beyond that I realized that no matter where we go or who we are or what we
bring, we take a part of our culture and history with us. I am my culture and my culture is me. My culture is the food, spices, and sweets I eat, my faith, and my family!
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