Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

My personal experience with classism has been a lot. When I was a mom of two I was confronted with a lady whose husband made more money than my husband. Her husband also outranked my husband in the military. I found out shortly after meeting her that I was pregnant with my third child. The lady told me that I should have been more careful with getting pregnant because my husband did not make enough money to take care of three children. I was a home care provider at the time and was helping to provide income into the home. The lady did not intend to insult me with her microaggressions. She definitely demonstrated her money and made a point to define her classism with it. I took her comments personally and it really bothered me how she downgraded me and my family all because we did not have as much money as her. I never addressed her comments and never told her how she made me feel. I did not make it a point to hang out with her or to be around her. I believe if she had been cooperative rather than competitive with me then we might have been friends. I also experienced microaggessions when I first started working at Head Start. I was the only white teacher out of 8 classrooms. I was told by another teacher, “You won’t make it here, and the parents won’t accept you.” This was hard for me to understand, why was I different than them, why wouldn’t the parents accept me? I have lived in many different parts of the United States and I have experienced a lot of diversity and microaggressions. I did not realize what microaggessions were, nor did I think about the impact they could have on others. I am far more aware now after this week’s information on microaggressions. We can discriminate, use prejudice words and stereotype people unintentionally with our words. I am far more aware and knowledgeable on the impact and psychological effects of microaggressions. I know how important my communication is with others, especially the families of the children I take care of. I feel that this week’s information on micoagressions better prepares me when talking and listening to parents and children. I am far more aware of how we can discriminate, become or act prejudice and stereotype people with unintentional, verbal microaggressions.

Perspectives on Diversity

I met with quite a few colleagues this week and we discussed cultural diversity and they each had unique answers. One friend told me that her cultural diversity focused on her religion and how her life revolved around that. Another friend talked about how her cultural diversity was of the non-dominant cultural, but she her husband was a pastor in the church in her neighborhood. He was a big influence in the community and he was thinking of running for political office for his district. The views and thoughts of cultural diversity for the people I interviewed were similar to mine but yet they were different. The people I interviewed were African Americans and they saw diversity as simple and to the point. This is how it is told to me over and over. The people I interviewed did not see where there culture or diversity was any different than theirs. They have never left the state of Mississippi and they have never experienced life outside of their community. The people I interviewed were unaware of how diversity affected their children or their own lives and were content to not worry about the diversity their children were being exposed too. The ladies I interviewed were of the African American culture, but they seemed unconcerned about their children losing their cultural identity or even diversity. I was a little sad and disheartened to learn how they were not concerned about keeping their cultural and diversity alive and active in their families. I think this is a good example of how I need to make sure that I explain and demonstrate the proper professional skills and knowledge when it comes to understanding families and children’s cultural and diversity. This has influenced my thinking of other people definitions of culture and diversity by giving me a broader understanding that others are not as concerned about their own culture and diversity as others are. This is fine and it is part of their diversity. It is however sad and disappointing to know that some families are unaware of how dominant culture influences and can change the cultural identity of young individuals.

My Family Culture

I have actually been through a natural disaster when I was younger. My mom collected all our family photos and family heirlooms like wedding gifts and family bibles. I believe I would take the same items, photos that represented us and our family heritage, family bibles that told our story of marriages and provided us with a religious foundation. I would also take my children’s baby books. I would want them to see and read what was important to us about them when they were little. I would be extremely sad and disheartened to learn that I had to give up precious items that are more valuable to me than anything else. I would take my family photo album. It would represent my culture and family values. It would represent who we were and where we came from. I learned how valuable my family is too me. My family represents my culture, heritage, and diversity. I do not know what I would do without my children. They are truly a good representation of me, my family, and of my culture.