EDUC-6164 Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

There was one instance when I was the target of a microaggression that stands out to me. I was at Wal-Mart and used my credit card to pay. We live in a major military area so most people get paid at the same time. The cashier said to me "it is amazing how many more people use their credit cards the further we get away from pay day". It took me a minute to understand exactly what she was trying to imply and then I felt humiliated because I felt I was being judged about how I was paying. The cashier was insinuating that I had to use my credit cards because I did not have money in checking to pay. There were two other people in line behind me who heard. I was shocked that someone would say that. Though I dismissed it from my mind a few days later, thinking about it again brought up the feelings of being annoyed and ashamed. 

Unfortunately between my kids and myself we have been sick with colds all week so we have not left the house.While I was not able to do any observations this week, I thought about times when I have seen people make facial expressions towards others at stores or you see them make comments under their breath. The causes of these are varied from someone's appearance, behavior of kids, and even abilities. I always feel bad when people make sighing noises as they try to rush around an elderly person or glare at the parent with the screaming kid. Though when I honestly think about, I do not believe the cashier meant to be insulting. I think this is one of those times that a comment comes out differently than we intended or even just not realizing how someone else could take it. I also do not think many people consciously make these facial expressions and noises and really understand the affect it can have on the person. I think before we can get mad at someone else for these microaggressions we must also take responsibility for our responses. Without this class I would not have the understanding about microaggressions that I do now so it is safe to assume most people do not either. Maybe the next time we hear or see someone we need to explain to them how their actions are hurtful and help educate others.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture- EDUC 6164

I talked to my sister, Jessica, who is a high school English teacher in Columbus, Ohio. She has worked at the school for ten years and when she started there was very little diversity and most of the kids were white and lived in the country. However, through the years as the district has changed they have gotten more kids of different races and they now have kids from over 50 different countries. She said in the beginning there was a lot of tension and fighting, but now the kids have adjusted and are more accepting. So her definition of diversity is her school. It is all different races and religion and values all being together and accepting of one another. Her definition of culture is everything that makes up a person.

I talked to a friend, Katie, who seven years ago adopted four children from Mexico. They are a white couple who already had two kids and adopted three girls and a boy ranging in age from 6 to 16. She said her definition of culture is what you decide it is. The older kids have more memories of Mexico and have chosen to keep some traditions, but have let others go. The younger two have said that is not their home anymore so why would they keep doing what they did there. She thinks each kid will continue to choose exactly what their culture will be. Her definition of diversity was knowing each person is different, but not having to verbalize it. There have been many times people have said "you must have adopted them" or "those can't be your kids, they are Mexican". She said these are very hurtful statements and she doesn't know why people have to state the obvious. 

I talked to a previous coworker, Lisa, whose ethnic background is Jamaican however she is very light skinned. She said she has been mistaken for Mexican or ask how she can be black when she is so white. She grew up in inner city Philadelphia and most of her school was African-American, but she said she never felt like she fit with any group. She said her definition of culture is our traditions. To her diversity is being aware that people come from all different backgrounds. Don't assume that the black person is from Africa or various stereotypes about different countries.   

Each person included parts about the definition of culture that we have learned in this class. Culture is everything about us. It is influenced by our childhood and our ethnic background and gender, but it is also influenced by our current experiences. Katie said culture is what we decide. She has seen her adopted children choose parts of their Mexican culture to keep, but also are integrating into the American culture. What was not included was how culture is also our lifestyle and gestures and parenting styles. When talking to other people about their definitions I realized how much our own experiences shapes our thinking and our definitions. 

My family culture-EDUC 6164

• The first thing I would take is my memory book of my Mom. My sister made it for us last year for Christmas and it is a picture book of all the pictures we used on the slideshow at her funeral. It has pictures through the years of my mom and many family pictures. This is important to me to be able to remember my mom and also other family members.
• I would take my recipe box. It has all my favorite recipes that I cook frequently including many that I have found on pinterest. It also has the recipes that have been passed down from my grandma and my mom and recipes that were given to me by other family members at my bridal shower. This is important to me because these are family recipes. There are a few that any time my siblings and I get together we still always have to make. These are also things that represent my culture and the type of food we enjoy.
• I would also take my camera. I love taking pictures and catching moments in time. I want my kids to be able to have pictures to look back on to remember.

If I had to give up two after arriving it would be very difficult, yet I would choose my memory book. The recipes I can always attempt and hopefully write down from memory a few and the camera I can hopefully get another, but I can never replace the pictures. 

This was actually pretty hard to decide. I walked around my house a few times because there are so many things that are meaningful to me, yet I also was trying to think of things that would represent my culture. I think these three do because the pictures show some past history especially in some with clothing and even some technology (there is a picture of my mom on a computer in the early 90s-it is huge). The recipes are an example of the types of food we eat because not every country eats the same food or cooks the same as we do. The camera represents the importance of pictures and I wonder how many other countries do not have access to cameras. 

I am excited to read other people's items and what they choose to represent their culture. I think there is going to be so much diversity because just like our social identities are different what we value enough to choose will also be different.