Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

As it was perfectly described in the video by Dr. Sue every day we experience a certain type of microagression that makes us feel marginalize, discriminated or excluded from a society that is powered by the majority group. With comments that might not be with the intension of offending, but often do more harm than those that actually are intended. A clear example happened to me two weeks ago, when while taking with the mom of one of my daughters best friends about our plans to visit Niagara Falls. She asked if we would we would see them from the American side, and I said that our intention was to see them from Canada, the she said “Do you have a passport?” My first answer was yes, we do! After that I tried not to show that I was upset with her comment and she seemed not to be aware of what had happened. She made me feel as if all Mexican’s were illegal in this country reason why we wouldn’t have a passport, I also felt as Dr. Sue said a perpetual foreigner in my own land.

Another example happened that same week when my daughter’s best friend came to our home to have a play day with my daughter. While walking to the park, my 3 year old son was riding his bike so I was walking in front of the girls, which were my 10 year old daughter and  Vinny her best friend, I noticed that a couple walked by and I smiled. When we got to the park my daughter said “Mom did you hear what that couple said, I said no, what did they say? They said those two colors of people don’t go together, what did they mean? My first reaction was I don’t know, don’t pay attention and have fun. Then I thought about it more, both my son and I are light completion, while my daughter and her best friend which is a beautiful Indian girl are darker especially with all the soon they have been getting. I can imagine that they were comparing our colors and race saying that Mexicans and Indians should be together.   I felt their comment was very racist and rude, the way they said it and that my daughter had heard it really bothered me, so I tried to invalidate it or ignore it, and I wanted my daughter to do the same, but as Dr. Sue mentioned they are comments that accumulate and leave a scar that affects you even if you try to ignore it. After reviewed Dr. Sue video and analyzing various instances in which I have been witness or victim of microaggression, I have a clear perception on the consequences that comments either intentional or unintentional about a person’s race, color, culture or ethnicity can have. And as educators we have the responsibility to make sure that all children and families feel safe, welcomed and valued as unique human beings and not feel inferior, excluded, marginalized or alienated.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I had the opportunity to interview people from different cultures as mine: One was my daughter which age is 16, my husband who is of a different gender and my neighbor which is a 70 year old German lady.

I first interview my daughter and her response to culture was: Culture is what a particular place like a country or region believes traditions and values.  Diversity is when you have a group of people from various nationalities, religions and believes together in a particular place.

My husband said that Culture is what a particular person believes and values, his traditions and says of understanding life. Where a person comes from and what their education and economic status is, how a person conducts him/herself in different circumstances. Diversity is when a group of people from various backgrounds are gathered together in one particular place. They all have different ways of thinking, speaking, dressing and practicing their faith.

My neighbor said that Culture was basically where you came from. If you were born in Poland you are Polish, if you are from China then you are Chinese and so on. Diversity is when you have a group of people from different countries all together. Then you have a group of people sharing their different traditions, foods and customs.

As I reflect on the answers provided during the interview in each of the participants, I am able to see many of the elements that were discussed in our coursed in regards to culture and diversity. They all mentioned that Culture is where a person comes from or race, what they believe and value. In regards to diversity the all mentioned that it was a group of people all with sharing different traditions, speaking a different language and practicing a different faith. What I did see is that they did omit several important factors in regards to culture that are not so superficial such as parenting, family dynamics, and expectations.

After reviewing each of the responses I’m able to understand how important it is to be able to understand the essence of what culture and diversity encloses. It is not enough to know superficial aspects if we really what to understand and value what a person values.

My Family Culture

If I would to decide to take 3 items from my personal belongings that would represent my family culture, it would be an album of family pictures that have pictures of several of my family members that live in Mexico City.  I have always enjoyed seeing these pictures, and sharing them with my children, it not only brings memories of relatives that I have not seen in years but also those that have passed away and that my children never got no know. I would take a Christ that I have in my bedroom, because  it has been with me and my husband since we good married, which has been 21 years, as a wedding present from my mother. It not only has a special meaning, but it also represents our belief’s as members of Catholic family, that puts their life’s in the hands of God.

Another item would be a “Chal”, it is like a small blanket that helps you carry you’re new born. It has a special meaning to me because it was a gift from my grandmother when I had my first child and I used it with all my three children. In order to give up any the three items would be extremely difficulty, and if I would have to choose one it would be my album of photos. They would be the item that would represent my culture, believes and values and the one that I could continue sharing with my children as well as to others.

   
An important insight that I gained from this assignment, is that my spiritual believes as well as my family are the foundation of my culture. That it is of extreme importance that I pass these to my children and their children as a way of not forgetting who we are, where we come from and what we believe.