- Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?
- In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people?
One example of microaggression that I have detected this week was at my job. The context in which it happen; A child in my class parent brung the child to school on the day we were close and was having a workshop. The problem at hand was she was Hispanic. Although we sent to letters home and verbally told her that we were close she felt like we were treating her different, but it was only a minor communication barrier. I feel like as an educator I did the right thing I got a translator to translate to make sure she that she was OK and comfortable with everything, and to give her a heads up about other days we were out coming up so that she would not forget. I assumed just because we sent notes home in English/Spanish that she read it, or even understood the note.
I think as educators we take alot of microaggressions lightly. We do not look at how it may affect families all the time when they may feel like an outcast, so as educators we have to understand and know how to make sure things are in order, so that any classroom will run smoothly.
The First person I talk to was my co teacher which is Hispanic.
Her definition of culture was spending time with family and keeping up the traditions of cooking, eating, and having a tight household.
Her definition of diversity was all different cultures come together as one and grown in one nation.
The second person was my mom who is African American:
Her definition of culture is a style of life for different people.
Her definition for diversity is to be different.
The Third person I asked was my husband who is African American:
His definition of culture is the strong belief in the way you live in your religion and your lively hood. Day to day life.
His definition of diversity is having differences.
Some aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in some of the responses that I have received because first and foremost the book is called Anti-Bias Education for Children and Ourselves . The book speaks for itself. Also I have learned about how different lifestyles make a difference, and how people are daring to be different, and follow different traditions in their day to day life experiences. Some aspects that may have been omitted is that of religion. It has influenced my own thinking because it makes me think of all the ways in which we are different but view culture and diversity as the same in so many different ways.
- 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 wedding photo,my grandma's pillow she made for my daughter, and son. I would take the family photo because it would have my whole family in it including my grandfather, which is deceased and I love him so much and miss him so much. My grandmothers two pillow for my children because it means alot to them and myself because she hand knitted them just for my children. I would explain to the by showing them and explaining just the way I have explained here. My feelings would be crushed because I would give up the pillows and keep the photo because everyone is in that photo, and it is meaningful to me because alot of special people where at my wedding. I have gained alot of insights because I have learned to appreciate my own traditions, family culture and even other cultures.
