Microaggressions

This week, we have been asked to focus on instances of microagressions, or
"brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental, that they may be intentional or unintentionally communicated to women, to people of color, to gay/lesbians that have an insulting message behind them that often time causes severe psychological distress and harm" (Sue, 2010).  As I listened to those around me, and to myself, I was surprised to hear the number of times that a comment or conversation could be considered a microaggression.  The example that impacted me the most was from a television show where a white man calls his assistant, who is from India "Mogli".  The show was a comedy and so the laugh track started right after the comment.  I was amazed at the comment and thought that it was a blatant assault on another person that was perpetuated by the media.  I felt embarrassed for the individual even though it was a fictional character.  How many young children may have seen that episode and now think that it is funny to call someone of that race a name like that?

As we study this topic further, I know that my sensitivity to these interactions will become heightened.  My challenge will be to monitor my own expressions and interactions and find a way to communicate more appropriately and effectively.

References

Sue, D. W. (2010). Microaggressions in everyday life: Race, gender, and sexual orientation. New York, NY: Wiley.

Defining Culture and Diversity

This week we have been asked to share the responses of individuals that we have spoken with about culture and diversity.  As we strive to define these concepts for ourselves, we know that the meanings are different for others.  We take those perspectives and allow them to shape our own definitions.

In my conversations with friends and colleagues, I found that their definitions of culture and diversity were similar and insightful.  One colleague spoke of culture as a broad term that encompassed many groups of people of similar characteristics, yet also has the potential to be a narrow designation.  She acknowledged that culture is not only one's ethnicity or heritage, that it also includes their family practices and traditions.  A friend struggled to define culture as one specific definition, but diversity was something that was easier to explain.  She called it the idea that differences are accepted among individuals and  many cultures are brought together in communities living and working together.  We talked about culture and she said that she understood that it included more than just race or ethnicity.  Finally, I spoke with another friend that spoke of local culture and diversity as one in crisis.  There are areas of our community that clearly struggle with unemployment, poverty, and discrimination.  In this conversation, culture was defined mostly as race and ethnicity and diversity was limited to areas outside the community in which people live.

Most people I spoke with were aware that culture is more than a person's race or ethnicity, though few could identify the less obvious characteristics of culture, such as socioecomonic status, parenting styles, and home life practices.  Diversity seems to be an easier concept for most people to define and identify.  They know that differences are what make us unique and what bring us together to create communities.  In reflecting on these individuals' answers, I understand that we all struggle to define culture and diversity for ourselves personally.  We can generate a definition, but when we think carefully about either our own culture or that of the children and families we serve, we have a lot of work to do to fully understand where they are coming from and how to best provide for their needs.

Perspectives on Diversity and Equity

In my new course in diversity and equity, we are exploring the ideas surrounding the cultures and backgrounds of children and families, how families are defined, and how professionals can partner with families to provide the most quality experiences for children and families in our programs.

This week, we have been asked to consider the following scenario:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

Blog about all of the following:

A description of the three items you would choose

How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise

I would take a family photo, a family recipe book, and a small key chain with St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers on it that I received from my dad before I traveled to Russia after high school.  The family photo would remind me of the bond we share as a family.  It would allow me to remember times when life was simpler and encourage me to establish that life again once we settled in the new country.  The recipe book would be important for us in that process to establish a sense of normalcy in the new country.  It would also be a tool to share our culture with others that have been displaced.  Food brings people together and sharing traditional foods is a great way to develop relationships with others.  The key chain would be important to me to remind me of my dad and the faith he and my mom raised my sister and I with.  It is a small token that holds very significant meaning.  I carry it in my purse every day!

If I was told that I could only keep one of the items, it would be the key chain.  I could carry it with me and remember my family and my past experiences, as well as feel a sense of security in the presence of a reminder of my faith.  I would feel a sense of loss in leaving the photo and recipe book behind.  When you think that those are the only possessions you have in the world other than the clothes on your back, it is tragic to think that they would be taken from you.  This exercise should be a reminder to us that this happens to people all over the world every day.  We hear in the news about people fleeing their homes because of war, famine, or other catastrophic events.  We must be thankful for what we have and the security we feel.  When we approach families, we need to be mindful of the pasts from which they come.  We often have no clear idea of the traumas they have experienced and the care they will require until we build a strong relationship with them.