Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggression is considered to be subtle insults made towards someone’s race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion (Laureate, Inc). Microaggression sometimes occurs as an unintentional compliment. However, the person on the receiving end may interpret the compliment as offensive or insulting. I myself have experienced some form of microaggression. For example, I remember standing in line at the grocery store waiting my turn to pay for my items. There were three people ahead of me in line. The three people happen to be two white males and one white lady. As I stood in line patiently, I observed the cashier greeting each customer nicely and handing their change in their hands. As I approached the register, I noticed the cashier demeanor change and she did not greet me as she did her other customers. I paid for my items, and was due cash back. Instead of the cashier handing me my money in my hand she placed the money on the counter with my receipt and didn’t even give me a thank you. This experienced left me feeling furious and belittled. I thought the cashier’s behavior was so rude. Although she checked my items out and gave me back my change, she clearly had an issue with dealing with someone who was black. Although she didn’t say anything to me that was rude, her behavior implied she was behaving racially biased.

It saddens me that people continue to still experience discrimination and prejudices. It confirms to me that although as a society we have over come many obstacles in regards to discrimination and prejudices the reality is, it still occurs. Honestly, I don’t think that we as a society will totally be free of discrimination, prejudices, and stereotypes. As early childhood professionals it is our duty to at least make efforts to change the mindset of biases against others in the children we work with.

Laureate Education, Inc. (n.d). A Conversation About Child Development [Video webcast]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2651039_1%26url%3D

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I asked three different people what was their definition about culture and diversity. The first person I asked was my aunt Deanna. She described culture as an appreciation for good literature, music, art, and food. Aunt Deanna expressed that culture is a learned life where people learn to do things based on the life they have seen growing up. In other words, culture is a learned behavior pattern. Diversity to my aunt Deana means a wide range of people and different things. She goes on to say that diversity is not just about color it’s also about having difference of opinion and being able to understand another person’s point of view.

The second person I spoke to was my cousin Yvette. Yvette describes culture as a way certain races communicate, interact and take care of social or personal situations in a certain way. She describes diversity as a composition of various elements for example, culture, ethnicity, and race.

The third person I asked was my friend Randy. Randy describes culture as the way you dressed, act, religious beliefs, the foods you eat, and political views. She describes diversity as people who are of different race, ethnicity, nationality, and religion. Randy expressed that diversity is to understand and accept that people are different and do things differently depending upon their culture.

After examining the answers I received, it allowed me to learn that culture and diversity have different meanings for people. Most of the answers that were included touch on the surface layers of culture, the things that are notice most in someone’s culture. For example, my aunt Deanna described culture as good food, art, and music. These are characteristics that are most commonly used when describing culture. The answers I received did not include the core of culture. For instance, no one spoke about specific characteristics of their culture, like mannerisms or specific behavioral patterns. Prior to taking this course, if I was to ask myself what would be my definition of culture and diversity, my answers would likely only consists of the surface layers of culture and diversity. I feel fortunate to be able to find deeper meaning and understanding in culture and diversity.

My Family Culture

If there was a major catastrophe that has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of my country and I was told that my family and I had to evacuate to another country but I could only take three small items with me, the three items I would take is my mother’s ring, a picture of my mother, and my iPod with Spanish music. The reason for bringing a picture of my mother and her ring is because my mother is deceased and she represents a large part of my family culture. My mother is one of the main people in my life who taught me about my own culture. Having a picture and ring is a symbol that I could hold dear to me and it would give me comfort in the new country. The third object that I would bring is Spanish music. I am from Panama a Spanish speaking country and Spanish music represents part of my culture. Listening to Spanish music wherever I am, I would be able to reminisce about my own culture while still enjoying a part of who I am. If upon arrival to the new country I was told that I was only allowed to keep one of the items that I brought, the item I would choose is my mother’s ring. Although all three items mean a lot to me, I chose the ring because it a symbol of my culture and heritage that I can carry on me wherever I go.

I enjoyed this exercise because it allowed me to dig deep into myself and who I am. When I think of my family, I just know that these are the people that are dear to me and that I love with all my heart. However, this exercise taught me that my family has more meaning and that the simple things that we take for granted, like learning to tie our shoes, how we speak, how we dress all makes up our culture and is the true meaning of family culture.