This week, I learned about microaggressions and how they can affect people. In the video, Dr. Sue explains microaggressions to be brief everyday indignities that are verbal, environmental, or behavioral. They are communicated intentionally or unintentionally, and contain an insulting message that causes physical stress or harm (Laureate Education, 2011).

A personal experience I have had with microaggression had to deal with my gender. I was in my early teens, and have grown up with an extended family full of boys and uncles who LOVE to hunt. Just because I was a girl, didn’t mean I was excused from the woods, so I would go out with them and build blinds, bait, and even hunt with my own bow and arrow. I remember as a writing assignment in middle school, I wrote about hunting with my cousins. One of the boys I sat next to said to me “I bet you’ve never shot anything in your life.” He was implying that because I was a girl, and not that many girls hunt, that I was no good at it. It really hurt my feelings, and I remember that moment to this day.

Before this class, I knew that discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes were wrong, but unfortunately were also things still prevalent in today’s society. The effects of these things can be very hurtful to those who are the target, and even to those who are not the target, but perceive them to be wrong. I myself am very saddened that we still have these issues today. The key is education, and we need to do a better job of not just learning ourselves, but teaching others just how important these differences are. In learning about microaggressions this week, I will definitely be more mindful as I believe I have most likely unintentionally been part of a microaggression at some point in my life.

Reference

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in Everyday

Life [Video webcast]. EDUC- 6164-8, Diversity & Equity. (Course Media). Baltimore, MD: Author

1) Jennifer: Friend, 29 years old

Definition of Culture: A group of people that share the same ways of thinking, traditions, lifestyles, religion, and beliefs.

Definition of Diversity: A separation of individuals based on race, language, culture, etc.

2) Pat, Mom, 56 years old

Definition of Culture: The way that a group of people have the same beliefs, look at things the same way, and deal with things the same way.

Definition of Diversity: The ways people are different: race, age, gender, religion, etc.

3) Tom, Dad, 58 years old

Definition of Culture: The backbone of society.

Definition of Diversity: Melting pot, everyone is different

4) Leslie, Friend, 28 years old

Definition of Culture: People’s perception and behavior based on the ways that they are raised, and the environment that they live in.

Definition of Diversity: People of different cultures working together.

Both surface and deep cultural aspects were given in response to the questions, such as religion, traditions, beliefs, etc. Things that were omitted were self-identities, such as political standpoint, sexual preference, career, etc.

In starting out, all four of the people I interviewed had a hard time starting to answer the question. They all paused and said umm……and some even laughed because they were having trouble putting their thoughts together. This is kind of how I felt before starting this class. I had ideas about culture and diversity, but they were hard to put into words. These past weeks and assignments have really helped me to gain a deeper understanding of culture and diversity.

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

This is the scenario I was presented this week. While this is certainly a dire circumstance, I am happy to be alive and able to travel to a different country where I can survive.

The three items I would bring along with me would be; a photo album, an owl figurine, and my pets. I would bring a photo album with me because it holds many memories of family and friends, good times, and happiness. It would allow me to show those in my new country where I came from and what I represent. Family is the most important thing to me, and I think that is a universal feeling that most people can understand. I would also choose to bring an owl figurine because it represents my Grandmother. Her and I were very close, and she passed away when I was 13 years old. She collected owls and had them everywhere! I was fortunate enough to be able to keep most of them when she passed and they help me to remember her and how much she meant to me. This is kind of like bringing the photo album, just another way to show who is most special to me. The last thing I would bring is my pets, I could never imagine leaving them or living without them. They are pretty much an extension of my family, and are just as important.

If I was told, upon arrival, that I could only keep one of these items I would feel terribly sad and torn. All three of these things mean so much to me. In the end, I would choose to give up the photo album and owl, and keep my pets. I would choose this path because the photo album and owl are inanimate objects that I can keep alive in my memories, my pets are living things that need me just as much as I need them.

This was a very hard exercise! There are so many things that mean so much to me and represent who I am. I could not imagine the feelings people have after loosing everything in a terrible disaster.