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?

It is sometimes hard when working in a diverse, low income area like I do, not to use stereotypes.  Last year during a parent teacher conference with a Hispanic parent, the ELL teacher, and interpreter, and myself.  We were talking with the parent about how we could best support them in getting the child’s homework completed.  It had not been turned in for several weeks.  The ELL teacher implied that perhaps a family member or friend who lives with them would be able to help.  After the suggestion was given in Spanish, the parent made a puzzled face and let us know that there were no other family members living with them.  Often in our district, several Hispanic families live together in small apartments.  The ELL teacher was making the assumption that, because they were Hispanic, there were other people living with them.  While I didn’t know it at the time, this was a microaggression.

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

Unfortunately, discrimination and prejudice are still very prevalent in our society.  Turning our backs on them and pretending they do not exist will not solve the problems.  We can spread the word of acceptance and being mindful of others, but perhaps the best thing we can do is model respect for others in a non-stereotypical way, and teaching kindness, acceptance, and open-mindedness to our students and children.

Definitions of culture and diversity from multiple sources:

• From my fiancé- a Caucasian, middle class male in his 30’s.  Grew up with very little diversity, but is a very open-minded, accepting person and now lives in an extremely diverse area: 

Culture – The environment that a person grows up in and currently lives in that shapes ones thoughts, beliefs, patterns and actions.  A person’s culture for the most part defines who that person is and what they will become.

 Diversity – Words that come to mind when defining Diversity include variety or difference.  Diversity can come in many different forms.  It could mean one person’s taste in music, food, etc.  It can also mean a group’s racial or cultural makeup. 

·     From my mother- a Caucasian, middle class female in her 50’s.  Went to a Catholic school and grew up with very little diversity.  Worked in a predominantly African American school district for several years and converted to the Jewish religion at marriage:

Culture:  social attributes of a group of people that kind of binds them together....things like values, beliefs, customs.

Diversity:  those individual and differing attributes which make people unique within their culture.

·         From a coworker and friend- an African American, middle class, lesbian in her 30’s who, like myself, has participated in depth trainings on cultural diversity and teaching in a cultural responsive manner:

Culture - Culture is the behaviors and belief systems that a particular group of people espouse to based on the sum total of their experiences, it may or may not be tied to ethnicity or race.

Diversity - For my own definition of diversity, I think of is as the differences we all have that make us unique.  There are many different kinds of diversity from the types we are born with and the types of diversity we develop through our lives. It can be racial, cultural, based on lifestyle, or many other different kinds of things that make our lives what they are.

·         My Reflections:

I was most impressed to see that no one that I discussed this with had the opinion that culture is related solely to race or ethnicity, and all included that culture is related to a person’s beliefs.  They also all related diversity to ‘differences.’  Again, these differences did not necessarily just relate to race and diversity.  They all seemed to have a true understanding of culture and diversity.  And although they are all very different in their own cultures, their definitions and understanding of these terms were very similar.  I suppose that people often surround themselves and have close relationships with others who have similar beliefs as themselves, so these similarities to each other’s definitions as well as my own does not surprise me.  Like we have discussed in our class, culture and diversity is much more than race.  It is everything that makes a person who they are.

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.

Blog about all of the following:

• A description of the three items you would choose:

I couldn’t imagine going anywhere without my 2 dogs.  I know that they are not small items, but they are far too important to me to leave behind!  They are the most important 2 possessions in my life and I would trade any other three items to be able to take them.

Assuming that they are considered to be part of my immediate family and are already coming, my three items would be as follows:

1.       My memory box:  This contains pictures, ticket stubs, and keepsakes from nearly every special date, movie, dinner, or trip that my fiancé and I have taken together.

2.       My running shoes

3.       My iPod

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

1.       My memory box is an important reminder of all the special times my fiancé and I have had together.  It is a collection of our favorite experiences and memories, and symbolizes the start of our lives together.

2.       Running is a very important part of my life, not only physically but mentally as well.  For a fitness view point, staying in shape and active has always been an important part of my life.  When I was a child through my teen years, it was through sports and dancing.  I spent my 20’s experimenting with several types of workout programs and fads.  But it wasn’t until just about two years ago that I found running as my physical and emotional outlet.  Running is freeing to me.  It makes me feel good about myself, allows me to blow off any steam, release any anger, think things through, and clear my mind.

3.       I have always loved music, a passion that was passed to me from my dad.  Early in life I played multiple instruments, and my dad taught me about classic rock musicians.  Throughout my life I have developed quite an eclectic collection of music.  I have music to fit and ease my many moods.  Much like running, it allows me to think clearly and relax.

• 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 angry and confused, but I suppose I would choose my memory box.  Memories cannot be replaced.

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

I’ve realized that what is most important to me is that which allows me to reflect, unwind, distress.