Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week I have heard several micro-aggressions. I had my church friends over last night for bunco. Some ladies were signing (being silly) and the song said "gay" in it. One of the ladies mentioned that, “We can no longer use the word gay." Another person replied, "Unless you are wearing pointed shoes and flipped her hand down." I thought the comment was inappropriate and a micro-assault.

The second micro-aggression I heard was while we were changing tables at bunco. A lady said, "where did you get this card table and chairs I think they were made for Asian people they are so little?" Again the comments were insulting.

The third micro-aggression was today from a college student. She was talking about her sister’s basketball game and made the comment about the black girl on the team being really black. I called her out on it and she said, "What I was not being rude I like, it is cool."  

The words of the ladies did not make me mad but I was taken back. I know these ladies and for the most part they are kind, loving people however they are obviously greatly unaware of the effects of their words. I knew I could approach them on the subject of micro-aggressions. I pointed out how their words are a form of racism. It ended up being great conversation. I think they learned a little and I felt good telling them what I have learned. This exercise helped me and others understand how easy it is for us to ignore or unintentionally insult people different then we are

Perspectives on Diversity & Culture

Person one: “Culture is a person’s background and experiences that have made them who they are. Culture generally speaking is a person’s age, ethnicity, disabilities, abilities, family dynamics, socio-economic status, and their geographic location,” (M. Jackson).

Person one: “Diversity is the span of differences between people. Diversity is the things that make people different from each other,” (M.  Jackson).

Person 2: “Culture is your family traditions, values, and beliefs. It is how a person is raised,” (J. Bredfield).

Person two: “Diversity is embracing other cultures that I did not grow up with. It is learning about people’s differences and what they do,” (B. Bredfield).  

Person 3: “Culture is a part of how I define myself. It has numerous aspects for example I am a child of the 7o’s and that affects my thoughts and feelings. My economic status in which I was raised is part of my culture and it molded my views and beliefs,” (A. Williamson).

When I was in the middle of asking this question a white middle-aged man joined the conversation and said we don’t have a culture and were not diverse. He believes because he is not of specific race he does not have a culture at all. “We are boring white class American’s.”

Person 3: “Diversity is the combination of different cultures coming together. It is the differences in beliefs, actions, and values. It is what makes the world interesting. Diversity is accepting that we are all different and that differences are okay,” (A. Williamson).

The aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied and that have been included in the answers I received are culture and diversity are about age, ethnicity, background, where a person lives and is raised, it is about family dynamics, eras, economic status, abilities, disabilities, traditions, and beliefs.

The aspects that were omitted about culture and diversity include language, heritage, religion, education, as well as culture being part of an identity which is ever changing.  That a group of people that share similar qualities for example African-American’s  do not necessarily share all the same beliefs, they may not all like the same foods, music, and they may not even speak the same language.

Listening to others talk about culture and diversity makes me realize that people see more surface culture or diversity rather than culture or diversity as personal. I think diversity is deep and not shallow however it is hard to understand. I think it is important that early educators talk more about culture and diversity and that it looks different to everyone. It can even look different to people in the same family.

Josie Zbaeren

My Family Culture

A description of the three items you would choose:

The three items I would take include a bible, my wedding band, and a small family photo. The bible represents me and my family as Christians, the wedding ring represents my love for my husband and the importance of our marriage in our family structure, and the photo represents the unity of our family.

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

I would describe the bible as a tool on how to live my life. The bible holds valuable information and stories from the past that teaches me how to act, react, love, care, and treat others. My wedding ring is a symbol of a promise I made to my husband to love, honor and cherish him and our relationship until death do us part. My wedding band includes diamonds from my engagement ring, my mother’s wedding ring, and my grandmother’s earnings from my grandfather. My ring is symbol of forever. Every man I love is represented in my ring and every loving model of marriage I was shown as a child is represented in my ring. I love it! The family picture represents the people I love the most in the world. 

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 feel sad, disappointed, and hurt. I would want to know why. I may even feel angry. I would give up the ring and the picture if I had to but I would not want to.

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

The insights I gained about myself is what I feel really matters. I know I want to have a bible with me now and forever. I learned it was not difficult to know what three items I would choose however very difficult to choose between the items.

Josie