This week I am traveling for work and attending a conference with about 120 people. We are a group of educators mostly women, but there is one man who is attending the conference. Before reading the information provided this week, I would have not considered the following example as a micro-aggression. Several of us have teasingly said, on several occasions this week, "Tell us how you really feel being the only man in a room full of women." or "Sorry Tom, it's a woman thing" or "You sure you can handle this?". None us have intentionally spoken to Tom to hurt him or invalidate him as an educator, a counselor or a person. However, Dr. Sue spoke of micro-aggression reflecting "views of inferiority/superiority and inclusions/exclusions" (Laureate Education, 2011). I did not consider this to be micro-aggression until I have been reflecting. Honestly, I feel a bit sad that we might have made him feel less than, or out of place. He is a great guy and I have learned a lot from him and with him this week. My perception of the effects of stereotypes has broadened through this experience. Even if it is in a "fun-loving" way, stereotypes can be hurtful. We have to be aware of our own biases and intentionally work to avoid stereotyping.
Reference:
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Friday, July 21, 2017
Perspectives on Diversity and Culture
I spoke to three different people to get their definitions of culture and diversity. Kennedy is 16 years old, Sharlon is a co-worker/friend that I have had for the past 12 years and Kristie is a parent of a former child I taught. Their answers are as follows.
Kennedy "Diversity is like having varieties. Like a range of different things. For example is you have a diverse varieties of apples, that means you have different kinds or types. You can have a bucket of apples but what makes them diverse is that some are granny smith, some are golden delicious and some are red delicious. Culture is who that person is and what they choose to do, such as beliefs, attire, ways of life, and food preferences. So diversity is what people see like how you can identify a group of people but their culture is what makes them, them. It isn't just the way they are seen but it's the way they live their life" (personal communication, July 18, 2017).
Sharlon "Culture to me is the distinct identity of ones roots in the historical experience of people. Culture is both distinct and enormously influential on American culture as a whole. Culture is how people were raised and pass down their beliefs, religion down from generation to generation. Diversity to me is the difference in one's race, gender, beliefs, culture and religion" (personal communication July 21, 2017).
Kristie "Culture- the beliefs, attitudes and customs of a group of people. Diversity- differences in culture, race, religion, gender, age and other physical and non-physical attributes" (personal communication July 19, 2017).
What aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received- and what are some examples?
I believe that in the answers I received, culture is defined much like what I have learned in this course. It is obviously not defined in the same vocabulary, but these definitions line up with the way that culture has been defined as who a person is, more than just the surface of clothes yet including the surface as well. Much like the iceberg metaphor used by Janet Gonzalez Mena.
What aspects have been omitted and what are some examples of such omission?
Family culture such as parenting styles have been omitted from most of the definitions. Sharlon mentioned a little bit of that in discussing how people are raised and pass down beliefs from generation to generation, but specific family dynamics are not mentioned. The other aspect that is omitted is the idea that a group of friends, a work place and/or a community can have its own unique culture.
In what ways has thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?
Thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity has broadened my thinking of these topics. Considering how other people define a topic, forces a person to consider their own beliefs, biases and even reconsider where their beliefs lie. I had not considered thinking outside of the box enough to use a metaphor of apples to describe diversity as Kennedy had. I had considered customs and beliefs as a part of culture but Kristie's definition made me consider the customs and beliefs that are a part of my own culture and family. Sharlon's definition made me consider how different cultures effect the American culture as a whole.
Overall, I enjoyed talking to all three ladies about this topic and gaining more insight. :)
Kennedy "Diversity is like having varieties. Like a range of different things. For example is you have a diverse varieties of apples, that means you have different kinds or types. You can have a bucket of apples but what makes them diverse is that some are granny smith, some are golden delicious and some are red delicious. Culture is who that person is and what they choose to do, such as beliefs, attire, ways of life, and food preferences. So diversity is what people see like how you can identify a group of people but their culture is what makes them, them. It isn't just the way they are seen but it's the way they live their life" (personal communication, July 18, 2017).
Sharlon "Culture to me is the distinct identity of ones roots in the historical experience of people. Culture is both distinct and enormously influential on American culture as a whole. Culture is how people were raised and pass down their beliefs, religion down from generation to generation. Diversity to me is the difference in one's race, gender, beliefs, culture and religion" (personal communication July 21, 2017).
Kristie "Culture- the beliefs, attitudes and customs of a group of people. Diversity- differences in culture, race, religion, gender, age and other physical and non-physical attributes" (personal communication July 19, 2017).
What aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received- and what are some examples?
I believe that in the answers I received, culture is defined much like what I have learned in this course. It is obviously not defined in the same vocabulary, but these definitions line up with the way that culture has been defined as who a person is, more than just the surface of clothes yet including the surface as well. Much like the iceberg metaphor used by Janet Gonzalez Mena.
What aspects have been omitted and what are some examples of such omission?
Family culture such as parenting styles have been omitted from most of the definitions. Sharlon mentioned a little bit of that in discussing how people are raised and pass down beliefs from generation to generation, but specific family dynamics are not mentioned. The other aspect that is omitted is the idea that a group of friends, a work place and/or a community can have its own unique culture.
In what ways has thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?
Thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity has broadened my thinking of these topics. Considering how other people define a topic, forces a person to consider their own beliefs, biases and even reconsider where their beliefs lie. I had not considered thinking outside of the box enough to use a metaphor of apples to describe diversity as Kennedy had. I had considered customs and beliefs as a part of culture but Kristie's definition made me consider the customs and beliefs that are a part of my own culture and family. Sharlon's definition made me consider how different cultures effect the American culture as a whole.
Overall, I enjoyed talking to all three ladies about this topic and gaining more insight. :)
Saturday, July 15, 2017
My Family Culture
The idea of having to relocate and only take three items is a bit overwhelming. I do not consider myself to be very materialistic, but at the same time, thinking about taking only three items is hard. I would take my Bible because it is the center of who I am and my faith. I would want to be able to glen from the Word at all times. I would take a photo album of pictures of my family and friends to hold onto memories. Lastly, I would take a stereo of some kind for music. Music is in the center of my family's culture, we listen to, play and sing music at all events, or anytime we are all together. Explaining what these things mean to me would not be difficult I do not believe. My Bible, is the center of my faith in Jesus. Pictures are important to me because they are a tangible way to remember things and those who are dear to my heart. Music is important to me because, regardless of how I am feeling, music has an answer. If I were told I could only take one of these items, I would be be devastated, I would feel great loss. I would choose to take the photo album because the Word is in my heart and I know that the Lord would bring the Word back to my memory in the exact time I would need it. Music is also in my heart and I can sing without music and remember the times with my family and friends that are surrounded in memories of music. The only insight that I have gained from this exercise is that my family does not have a lot of material items that relate to our culture. It makes me a bit sad to know that I do not have "memorabilia" that represents my family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)