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
Hello, Staffanie,
ReplyDeletePeople can see microaggressions often in shopping at check out with cashier. This microaggression bring the paimful feeling to target people and makes stressful. Now we have experienced the microaggressions and should we pay attention to our words and behavior that won't hurt other people.Thanks for sharing.
I agree Steffanie with your statement that prejudices will exist and will continue to exist in most societies if not all societies. With this said, what would you suggest early child care professionals do to bring about some type of social change with regards to microaggression in our every day professional workplaces/ engagements with others.
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