Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

    An example of a micro aggression act that I remember is happening to my son while he was in the day care center. When my son turned four, I celebrated his birthday at the center with his friends and teachers. By the time we were about to put out the candles, his teacher made a comment regarding the colors of cake which were one of them is pink. So, his teacher said, Are you girl? My son was about to burst into tears when he heard that comment. Because the teacher noticed that this comment has bothered him, she tried to fix situation by saying that she was just joking.  Upon arriving home, my son told me that he does not want to go to that place again because he believed that his friends would make fun of him. I do believe that his teacher intentionally harm him, and demean his identity in front of his friends.

      This week has really made me realize that microagrressions whether intentionally or unintentionally can hurt people feelings and demean their identity and heritage. I have learned that I need to be more aware when I speak and deal with children and families .Thus, I see that how important is to build strong and effective relationships with families and their children so we can exchange our experiences together and learned from each other. These relationships can play an effective role in helping us not to judge people based on their race, class, religion, or ability.

Definition of culture and diversity

The people I conversed to define the culture and diversity as follow:

First person

1-Culture is the beliefs, costumes of a society or an ethnic group. En example is like the tradition or a common language in a group of people or common religion or common foods all make up the culture of a group of people.

1-Diversity is the differences of a society or an ethnic group; this could include cultural differences, economic differences, and racial differences among others.

Second person

2- Culture is anything that you inherited through tradition whether it is from your family, or from your surroundings. It can be from the way you eat, the way you speak or how you do things in your everyday life. It can also be from the clothes you where, what beliefs you practice, it is an identity that defines who we are as individuals as well as who we are as a collective people.

2-Diversity is anything that makes us unique from one another. I may be from the same country, speak the same language and have the same skin color as one person but my actions, my beliefs and my motives for living the way I live are all diverse from one person from the next. It is not just how I look that makes me unique or different, but it is also how I live, practice my beliefs and my personality that identities me as well.

Third person

3-Culture is the combination of language, faith belief, way of living, style of dressing, as well as type of music, art that people follow.

3-Diversity means having differences, recognizing it, accept and respect them, deeply understanding that we all are different in its own way but at the same time we embrace the differences creating an environment where all can assist each other, learn from each other and develop.

 

The aspect of Culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in all three of answers. Each one defined culture and diversity in a good way and refers that culture, diversity defines who are, and that we have to accept each other no matter what are the differences. In fact, these three definitions influenced my own thinking in way that I now become more conscious about how culture influences people’s lives, and how it shapes individuals’ identity.  These differences can create an environment that is effectively unique and beautiful. Thus, it is highly important t o go deeply and understand people’s feeling, emotions, perspectives, and their experiences without  put much thoughts  on the  external part that make us missing many important aspects of individual’s life.

 

 

 

Week 2

MY FAMILY CULTURE

 

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.

The three items that I would choose to bring along are:

1. Quran

2. My Family album

3. My children’s baby book

·         How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you.

I would explain to others that each of these items are very dear to me and represents my family culture. Quran is important to me, it represents my faith, and the guidance during my new journey.

My family album is also means a lot to me, it includes all my memories that I have spent with my family and my friends. I want my children understanding their family traditions and culture, and not feel separated from that part of their life.

My children’s baby book will show them the importance of each stage of their development and growth.

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep on personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you.

If, upon arrival, Iam told that I could only keep one personal item, I would choose my Quran because it will guide me, and protect me throughout my new life. I would tell my kids that God is with us all the time and he will give us the best if we stay close to him.  I would be unhappy and upset to leave the other two items because each one is valuable and reminds me of special moments of my life.

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise.

 

This assignment has made me realize that Iam very blessed to have my family around. It really shows me how it is so important to preserve family culture that play a huge role in  shaping our identity and makes us who we are today.