Practicing Awareness of Microaggression

This week I was not a target of a microaggression nor did I clearly witness any. I do have a memory of a couple microaggressions- microinsults that happened in a one week period a few months ago. There was not any one present that was the target but the slight remarks that were made bothered me on a deeper level because they were narrow-minded, hurtful and ignorant (not sure how else to describe it).

The first scenario: A customer was explaining how he ran out of gas and people came to his aid. He was excited and grateful in his retelling of the incident and exclaimed “You have got to love those [ethnic group] they always know how to push a car”. Hearing this made me sad, but sadder for him because he did not realize how he sounded. He didn’t realize his words were an insult to his own humanity.

The second scenario: Another customer came into my friends shop wanting to get a discount on her contract. She was explaining how her husband and she were financially burdened because of taxes this year and they needed to cut as many corners as possible. In this recount she stated to the owner “I don’t mean to [religious affiliation] you down”. Again this stung my ears. She did not realize how uneducated and unfeeling she made herself and her explanation sound.

I truly found myself in the dominant culture when these scenarios took place. These two customers seemed liked they only made these microinsults because they felt safe do so or rather assumed no one around was part of the cultures they slighted. Reflecting on these phrases is hearing like little bombs going off. Being aware of microaggressions creates small firecrackers off awarenessall around me.

Reference

Sue, D.W. (2012). Microaggressions in everyday life. Walden University. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

These were my four responses (thank you friends and family for sharing!)

•       “Culture: Morals and values that we are raised with, as well as influence by our society. Can include race, religion, as well as just area you live. Diversity: An array of people from different cultures, race, religion, etc all together” (Fought).
• “Culture: the arts of humanities, intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Diversity: the state of having different forms, types and ideas” (Burkhart).
•    “Diversity- different. Culture- grown, nourished. At least that's my idea of each” (Runckel).
•        “Diversity: having difference, changeable. Culture: heritage where one comes from or chooses to be a part of” (Kay).

Similar to the course’s work on these topics our culture is everything we are, including (but not limited to)- morals, values, influences, the arts, achievements, growth, nurture, heritage and choices. Again my mind is broadened even further, and I am amazed at how the term culture brings about heart-warming definitions. Initially, I thought cultural tools were not included in these responses, yet they are. Art, achievements and items of heritage are created and used by people and groups. Where we work, what we do each day are choices, choices of what to be a part of. Diversity appears simple, yet is truly complex my opinion. It can be seen as ‘how we are different from each other’ yet through the course and my own reflections there are various pieces to its whole. How does one “…take on the diversity of the reality of…[?]” (Smidt, 2006). Also, being different makes up humanity, yet when we are unaware of the small differences or lack the ability to utilize, assimilate, and evolve within the diversities among us we hit a wall. Some theories in child development “[do not] allow us to account for the huge diversity we encounter when we broaden our palette to encompass all the world’s children” (Smidt, 2006). A picture of a dance is completely different than moving within the dance.

My Family Culture

This is hard for me to decide. I have pondered similar what if scenarios and I’d come to the conclusion that my children, family and animals would be all I would gather and take. Yet if their were three small material items that I would bring it could range from a photograph(s), birth certificates, my wedding ring, a favorite blanket or jacket… Other than that I really do not have any small items that I would need. Unless they are for specific reasons, material keepsakes or survival? Therefore I will choose yet are not limited, my mind could change over time.

Three small items I would bring:

Family photograph

Wedding ring

Favorite blanket

v  A family photograph to hold close or to share or if I were to get separated from my children they could take it.

v  My wedding ring because I simply do not go without it and it is a material representation of my marriage and family unit.

v  A favorite blanket, because it would help me feel secure and safe and I can share it with my family. (I have a plan to make a family quilt and if this were completed I would in fact choose that blanket J)