Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

A microaggression that I detected occurred a couple of months ago.  I was at a gathering at a friend's house and there was a diverse group present.  I had meet everyone that was there before and were good friends with many and acquaintances with some others.  There was conversation going on about health care and "Obama care" and everyone was expressing there opinions in an adult and calm manner and every was respectful...until the moment when one of ladies in the conversation whom was African-American  made the statement as she pointed to a few of us whom are Caucasian and said "Well of course you aren't going to like "Obama care" and I bet you didn't vote for him".  I have to say I was a bit taken back as I wasn't expecting the conversation to go down that road.  One of the ladies in which she pointed to  stated back, "Actually I did vote for him and just because I am white doesn't mean I wouldn't vote for him".  She went on to say "I vote for the people I like and it is  based on their views and what I think is important, it is not based on race, gender or even party lines.  And  just because I vote for someone doesn't mean I agree with everything they stand for.  There are times when I agree with the people I vote for and sometimes I don't.  So tell me what were some of Obama's points off his political platform you support and believe in?"  There was no answer, so then the Caucasian lady then said "Oh, does that mean you voted for him only because he was black and not for his politics?"  So that made the conversation even more awkward.  Someone else jumped in and changed the subject entirely.  After the entire conversation happened I felt very awkward and thought about how everyone at one point or another experiences racism.  I have to say that I was glad for the woman standing up for herself and she actually made the point that the one making the initial microaggression was being biased and applying stereotypes as her statements were accusing others of being biased.  It could also be said that the Caucasian woman used a microaggression in her response. 

From this experience as well as reading the various scenarios this week I truly see how all people have biases and stereotypes.  Some are at the surface and some can lie more below the surface in a more unconscious way.   For the most part I believe many of our conversations or statements that contain a microaggression are unintentional and no harm was intended.   However there are times in which people do intentionally say things to cause harm or hurt other people's feelings or jump to conclusions as my example showed.  My learning experiences this week have opened my eyes and has given me new insights on how to be more conscious and aware of what I say so I do not cause any hurt feelings. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 

The three people I asked to define culture and diversity was my boyfriend, my daughter and a colleague.  I chose these three people because I wanted to get a perspective from a male, a young adult and someone who is culturally different than myself and happens to be a little bit older.

My boyfriend defined culture as our beliefs and values, religion,  how we celebrate holidays, our traditions, foods we eat, and the language we speak.

He defined diversity as the differences between people, the difference between cultures.

My daughter defined culture as heritage, traditions, beliefs and values things based on ethnicity.

She defined diversity as different ethnicities and the differences between heritage, traditions and beliefs.

My colleague defined culture as coming from our heritage and family.  It includes things like our religion and beliefs, how we do things such as celebrate holidays and how we use traditions, it is how we raise our children, how we interact with others, how we view the world.

She defined diversity as the differences within our culture and it is what makes us unique from others in the sense of a being part of a particular race or ethnic group,  but especially is what makes us unique as individuals. 

The aspects I received from my participants' answers were included from what I have studied so far with this course.  Some examples are the answers that were very similar to and would be defined as surface culture such as celebrating holidays, traditions, and the foods we eat.  Some of the answers were also similar to and would be defined as deep culture such as heritage, values and beliefs, language, and how we raise our children. 

The aspect about culture in which I do feel was omitted by all three of my participants would be in  reference to the dominant culture.  However I am not sure prior to taking this class if I was asked about culture and diversity if I  would reference the dominant culture either, as I did not think about it in the terms I do now. 

The way other people viewed culture and diversity was very similar to my thoughts.  However, I found the answers in which my colleague gave in terms of how we interact with others and how we view the world to be interesting as while I know we all have different perspectives based on our experiences those experiences and perspectives can be or become part of one's culture and I am not sure if I thought of culture as including such experiences. 

My Family Culture

The three things I would bring with me would be... a photo album,  I would bring this because it would have pictures of my family experiencing our family culture.  Pictures are worth a 1,000 words and what better way to keep and share my family culture!  I would also bring my recipe box.  This contains recipes from family and friends as well as some of my own.  While food may be a stereotypical trait of culture it is one that means a lot to my family.  We all have our favorites foods and sometimes no one but grandma's, mom's or aunt so-n-so's dish is the only one that will do!  The last thing I would bring would be my Pandora bracelet.  My family has given me different charms that have special meaning to me and many represent my family culture. 

 
                                                      
                                                                                                                

It would be very difficult to only be able to keep one item of the three.  They all mean so much.   I have already left so much behind and it was already difficult to pick just three things and then to be asked to give up two more would be devastating. 

When completing this assignment I had a hard time picking two other items other than photo albums.   My first thought was to bring three photo albums but I realized that I needed to push myself to think of two other items.  I think I picked pictures at first because I have been in the situation a few times in which I have had to evacuate where I was living due to hurricanes.  Every time I left I took all the pictures.  Pictures are near and dear to me because they can not be replaced easily.  Pictures are a way to "freeze" time and relive the wonderful moments that occur throughout our lives.  I also thought how hard it would be to actually leave everything you have known in your life and to go somewhere with virtually the clothes on your back.  I find this would be very scary.