Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I remember a moment that I was a target of microaggression within the workplace. My early childhood program was trying to achieve NAEYC accreditation. In order for early childhood programs to receive this form of accreditation the program needs to create portfolios about the center, the classrooms, and the entire program. My team was working together on the Toddler Classroom portfolio together and supported each other’s work to complete it to be assessed. I was having trouble with a few questions and my team found it difficult as well, they suggested I speak with the director, my supervisor, and ask her for some help and support. I remember asking her help with a specific question and the response I got from her was, “Well, read this section again and the items that you need for it is here in the require materials. It’s all right there in front of you.” I thanked her for the help and asked a completely different team member for her insight, thoughts, and feelings regarding the question at hand. I few weeks later I asked my supervisor the same question and her response was, “It’s right there in black and white.  It states exactly what is needed.” I tried to express myself about how I was feeling and she continued, “Erin, its right there. Look at the suggestions and collect the materials for the section.” I completed the section and a week later I was spoken directly about the work I completed. “Erin, this work is a half ass job. I need you to go back and look it over before handing it in again next week.” I expressed myself that I worked very hard on the section I was assigned and asked multiple times for help and was pushed aside regarding the questions I was asking. I was the target of racial microaggression, more specifically microinsults and microinvalidation (Laureate Education, 2011). My work was being subjected and invalid of the hard work I put into completely the section in the more successful manner to achieve the accreditation. I felt that I was not capable of completing the assignment I was given and that I was not intelligent enough to complete the task. I felt insults at how my supervisor was treating me with regards to an assignment that I was given to complete. My supervisor always states that the teachers can go to her for anything and ask questions whenever we need any help. Well clearly when I asked for help it was not returned in a manner of understanding and support.

            I made observation this week regarding culture and microaggressions that affected my perception on discrimination. It opened my eyes to know that it’s not all about culture or diversity, but power and superiority over others is what I took away from this experience (Laureate Education, 2011). I never felt so degraded in my life by the way my supervisor spoke towards me. I felt like I was a little child being scolded by my mother. It was embarrassing and I wanted to express myself and be heard.  I was made to feel inferior and to understand my boss was the superior and to listen to every detail and suggestion that came from her whether it was right or wrong. I was able to have a voice when I spoke with the Director of the company about my feelings regarding the way I am treated as an employee. It was nice to share my feelings and finally be heard, but I want it to be with my supervisor. After learning about ways to change microaggression, I will try to have a more intimate connected relationship with her to avoid and prevent any form of microaggressions with her in the future (Laureate Education, 2011).    

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved

from https://class.waldenu.edu

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I asked 3 different friends from different cultures about their thoughts and views on culture and diversity.

One friend stated, “Social customs and beliefs of a group of people. Diversity is different was a group adapts to culture” (Hardy, Personal Interview).

Another friend said, “Culture is what makes you, you. Example, your beliefs, Jewish, Christian, Muslim. Diversity different like biracial not races open to all sexes, no discrimination” (Ansara-Burns, Personal Interview).

Another friend shared, “Culture is your upbringing, traditions, and values. Diversity is individuality, to be different and unique” (Bauchman, Personal Interview).

Reviewing my thoughts on culture and diversity. To me, culture is the values, beliefs, and traditions within my own family. My race, ethnicity, religious views, and customs. Diversity to me is all of the aspects of my culture, including the social identities that make up who I am as a person. The community I am a part of and belong to, how I respond in a situation, and interact with other people.

The aspects of culture and diversity that I have learned in this courses is culture and diversity mean so much more than I ever thought it would mean. Culture and diversity is the most majority reasoning behind every person’s responses, actions, and interactions. It’s the way people live their lives and all the hopes and dreams they want for their child and family. Even early childhood professionals want the same thing and to support families and young children to feel comfortable in the world around them. Reviewing the answers I have collected about culture, they each shared how it was connected to our customs, beliefs, values, and traditions. These terms are divided between the surface culture and deep culture of how people define culture (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 56). We are all different and everyone will define culture and diversity in their own way, but everyone is able to share the same views and thoughts about what culture and diversity mean to each and every one person. Their thoughts on diversity is about each person’s individuality, being unique from others, being different, the ability to adapt. Diversity is about belonging and feeling comfortable in our own shoes for being different. To help support others to understand and accept the differences between my culture and diversity with others (Laureate Education, 2011).   

The aspects that were omitted from culture are holidays, artifacts, language, gender roles, showing of emotion, and the importance of culture (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 56). I find this items as important as the aspects that were received. I do not think the importance of gender roles and the show of emotion is not important as the other aspects. I find it more as the topics of not wanting to offend anyone on their views and thoughts about gender roles and the values of showing emotions or the lack of showing emotions. The same thought process happens with diversity of not wanting to offend anyone on the way they are and the importance of their own culture and diversity means to them for years to come (Laureate Education, 2011).  

Taking the time to listen to my friends’ thoughts and definition on culture and diversity has helped influence my thoughts about culture and diversity as a whole. I have to say, I never really took the time to see how much culture and diversity play a key role into teaching young children and their families in the early childhood field.  Culture and diversity play a key role on how we treat others, how we interact with others, and how we reaction to different situations we experience on a daily basis (Laureate Education, 2011). It makes me want to learn more about culture and diversity from others perspectives because it makes us unique and different from each other, but we are very similar the more we realize. Every culture and diversity stands out and unique in their own way, but they are similar in the hopes and dreams everyone is striving to achieve.

References:

Derman-Sparks, L. & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Learning about culture, language, and fairness.

Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves (pp. 55-60). National Association for the Education of Young Children: Washington, DC.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Family cultures: Dynamic interactions [video file].

Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

My Family Culture

The three items I would bring with me that are most dear to my heart and soul would be my cross necklace, my Teddy Bear, and a small photo album.

I have a gold cross with a diamond in the middle of the cross on a gold chain, 18 inches long. The chain has loops and the chain is circular compared to being flat. The reason why I would take my cross necklace because of my deep Catholic faith. I was very involved in the events and activities that were held at the church. My love for my Lord and Savior. The cross reminds me of my love to my Lord Savior, Jesus, and how much he shows me his love in return. 

I have a stuffed animal; a teddy bear.  He is brown, soft, and lays flat compared to being round and overstuffed with stuffing.  Easy to hold for comfort and to lay on to fall asleep. The whispers are no longer on the stuffed animal and could be stuffed to its original form. The reason I would take my teddy bear with me to a foreign land for the comfort it offers me. I have had this teddy bear for a long time and it follows me where ever I go. It is a reminder of home and those who gave it to me, my parents.  

I have a small flower photo album that holds up to 12 pictures. I would have pictures of myself and my family in the photo album. The photo album holds memories that I can look back at and share those stories with my family and others I meet a long on the journey.

If I had to chose one item and give up the other items, I would have to say my teddy bear. I can always keep those memories held in pictures and make new pictures with new memories. My cross necklace could be sold for money and the symbolic mean could have changed due to the unexpected change of moving to a new country. Keeping the faith will always be carried in my heart, I would not need a reminder of a symbolic to know how much love and faith I have for my chosen and family culture of religion. My teddy bear is something that can not be replaced by another stuff animal teddy bear. The bear could be a different color and rough. It just would not be the same. The teddy bear is something I can hold on to and find comfort in a new land with my family. Knowing my family is struggling with the change as well.

I would have a hard time adjusting to the new land and afraid to speak with others that have lived their all their lives. For my family culture and for myself there are things in life that can not be replaced while other items will always be with you.  Items are passed down from generation to generation and its token of love is within each heirloom.  I would love to do the same and continue on with my families traditions.