Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week’s lesson was focused on microaggressions and this week I had the unfortunate experience to witness a microaggression take place. My girlfriend and I were driving on the road and her tire blew out, luckily we had a spare but we decided to check with local tire centers to try and purchase a new one. After some searching we found a place and so we preceded to tell the man what exactly happened and give him the information about the car/tire, when the man stops us mid-sentence and says, “Are ya’ll gay?” We turned and looked at each other and replied, “Umm…yes we are lesbians, why do you ask?” The man replies by saying, “Why would ya’ll want to be that, did something happen to ya’ll? Do ya’ll sleep with men, give me a try I won’t disappoint ya’ll?” Now while this man was babbling on asking all personal questions, my girlfriend and I stood there feet frozen shocked that some human being would have the audacity to ask those questions to our face. I was able to gather from this week’s lesson and from the articles provided that the microaggressions taking place in this incident were microinsult and microinvalidation. The man made an assumption that not only was rude but was very hurtful, that somehow the reason why we were lesbians was due to something horrific taking place and I have found that many individuals often believe that homosexuals are raped or molested which makes them choose the same sex. It is my opinion that those individuals have a cloudy since of imagination and just do not understand the LGBT culture. I believe that once people break down that barrier of ignorance or hate that they would be able to really get to know the LGBT community and realize that we are all human, just with various preferences. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

When I think of culture and diversity, I first take a look and look at the closest people around me, and for this week’s post I wanted to share how my friends and colleagues define culture and diversity.  I had the privilege to speak to Mrs. Julie Harvey (Trinidad infant/Toddler Lead Teacher), Ms. Shriya Ambi (Indian Preschool Teacher), and Mr. Malcolm Ramsey (African-American Curriculum Specialist). I asked the three the following questions:

·         What is your definition of culture and diversity?

·         What affects have the two had on your professional career?

Mrs. Julie Harvey when asked stated the following:

            “I believe culture and diversity are two of the same because there are no way you can have one without the other. I would say that culture deals with the various groups of people in one society and diversity is the mixture of all the groups. I believe that culture and diversity has influenced my professionally career for the better and has made me take a closer look at all families and children and even at times colleagues”.

Ms. Shriya Ambi stated the following:

            “Diversity is what this world is about and defines the many individuals who are present on this present Earth. I feel that culture is what makes us all humans and is displayed in all the things that we say, do, dress and think. For me understanding culture and diversity is complex as the groups of people change but at the same time creates an everlasting learning experience”.

When asked Curriculum Specialist Malcolm Ramsey responded in the following way, saying:

            “As early childhood education and the field as a whole changes, so does the types of families early learning centers around the world service. As a professional I am able to see the effects of culture and diversity on the learning environment and can conclude that culture and diversity are teaching tools to understand all types of people and their backgrounds. Culture is what makes them who they are and diversity is what sets them apart from the rest”.

From my colleagues responses I am to gather how outside individuals view culture and diversity and how the two impact the field. I was also able to see that my colleagues did not touch on ethnic groups, race, religion and other key components of diversity and culture. It was very interesting learning about culture and diversity and learns about how outside individuals put each subtopic into their own category, and are able to incorporate the two into a lesson, complex thought or simple statement. I believe this assignment has allowed me to gain a true appreciation for other people and to fully respect all things that make them who they are and them family that they have.

My Family Culture

If I was put into a position to be evacuated from my home country and placed into another country I would bring along a bible, radio with various cassettes and a family photo album. I would take this item because the bible will serve as my comfort in my time of need and give me understanding of the situation in which I was faced, the album will allow me to remember my family as they were and keep them close to my heart and the radio will allow me to think of all the good times I had being around my old neighborhood, family and friends and also help bridge the gap between myself and the host country.

I believe the act of actually having to leave my homeland and being placed into another would be very hard and difficult for me to understand, but if I were told to leave two of my selected items behind I would be devastated to the core. In that time of confusion I would depend on having at least my bible and my family photo album with me to help me cope with losing things and family members who were so dear and important to me. From doing this exercise I am able to see how I would never want to be in a situation where I am away from those individuals and things that matter most to me. I am also able to see how by having these things that make up the person I am and shine light on my family heritage.