Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Before I started taking my current class, I was unaware of the term "microaggression".  I was aware of the implications of a microaggression, the unconscious insult that is meant as a possible compliment which does not phase the "talker", but leaves a psychological damage to the "listener".  I hear microaggressions everyday since I moved out to Western PA.  I grew up in South Jersey and was probably victim to microaggressions there and was not aware of or remember them.  My husband to this day is more aware of microaggressions than I am, he getting more upset when someone says something that should offend me.  I tend to brush it off, leaving it to karma or some higher being to take care of later on.  We all have our biases, our stereotypes, our prejudices.  I have them, as much as I do not like to admit it, but I try to aim mine towards people's character, their actions, and whether or not they are trying to better themselves.  I could care less about their race, ethnicity, nationality. 
Several weeks ago, I was working and  a person who will be left unnamed made a comment that "the foreigners at our center all bring their kids in for half days".  I was left utterly shocked and annoyed.  Right now typing that makes my blood pressure rise.  The person I was speaking to had no idea what they just said or the implications of their comment.  I could not even respond to the person for fear of not being professional, since that day I have held my own bias and prejudice against her. As far as microaggressions that have been aimed at me, one that happens every time I straighten my naturally kinky curly hair, "Oh my gosh, your hair is so soft/straight/flowy, it does not feel coarse/stiff at all!  Your hair is more white than black."  What?  Even my grandmother has fallen prey to the comment.  As a kid, I took it as a compliment because I always wanted soft flowy "white" hair, but now as an adult I find it annoying and ignorant. 

I now find myself looking for the hidden messages in everything that people say.  Especially at work, where I hope to have a staff meeting focusing on culture and diversity within the education field. 

I took a really interesting test, I invite you to take it too, it is an eye-opening experience. 
Teaching Tolerance. (n.d.). Test yourself for hidden bias. Retrieved May 25, 2011, from http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

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• I reached out to social media (Facebook) and my own family to seek out personal definitions of culture and diversity.  These are the answers I received:
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  • My mother (Claims Adjuster for a large insurance corporation) Culture – Is where your grew up, our beliefs and values of our family.  There are varying levels of culture.  Diversity – Understanding and open to everyone’s interests, values, traditions, nationalities, etc. 
  
  
  • My husband’s aunt (Studied French Literature at the University of Delaware) Culture - a group of people who live in an area determined by geography.  They share certain norms and limitations. Diversity - When several cultures have the good fortune to meet there is diversity.  No longer are there limitations and minds are open to more ideas and wider possibilities.
  
  
  • One of my sorority sisters, Sam (Patient Care Coordinator) Culture – The family and ethnic traditions (i.e.) how people celebrate holidays, how people prepare food, how people raise their children, etc.  Diversity – is the melding of these traditions and mixing cultures into a culture unique to the people. 
  • One of my sorority sisters, Jess (Inclusion Services K-8th teacher) Culture- they have certain morals, values, and traditions that represent their culture. Diversity - is when you have different cultures in one area.  In a teaching aspect you have to teach the different cultures to make students aware of the diversity that exists to they can respect each other.  
  
  
  I found it interesting that everyone had similar ideas and definitions of culture and diversity.  I was influenced to apply their definitions to the cultures I know they have come from and the experiences they have had in their lives.  We are each diverse in our own ways.  We do not share similar cultures solely based on our current living locations.  We each live in different states, with different jobs.  I really liked this assignment!

My Family Culture

If I had to take three items with me to another country with a totally different culture, I would have a difficult time choosing what to take.  I would have to take a photo album filled with pictures of my friends and family, most importantly.  My friends and family mean more to me than anything in the whole world.  The photo album would give me the chance to still feel a connection with everyone in the photos.  I would also take an I Pod or some form of music player filled with music that is nostalgic to certain periods of my life.  Music has always been the perfect addition to my life, I could not imagine a world, my world, without music.  There are several songs that hold significant meaning to me and I would need access to those songs to assist in my transition.  Last but certainly not least, I would have to take my pets.  While they are not conventionally my family, they quickly become family and are my fur babies.  I could not leave them behind.  
I feel as though my items are clique, but are so important to me that I couldn't be without.  I think the best way to explain to others what these "items" mean to me, would be just watch me.  I wear my heart on my sleeve, it is hard for me to mask how I feel.  Watch my face when I look at those pictures, watch my face while I listen to a song, watch my face when I interact with my little ones.  That is how you know how much they mean to me.  

I would be absolutely devastated at first, if I was told I could only keep one item upon arrival to my new destination.  But, I try to keep a positive mentality so I know I would eventually be okay.   They are just items.  I have my memories to live on with me.  

As a result of this exercise, I realized how important family is to me.  The need I have to have my family as close to me as possible either through photos or in person is what molds me and keeps me level.