Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week at school the one microaggression that I heard was a microinsult.  Our high school has a very diverse population of students.  A lesbian couple was sitting on the stairs when other student walked past saying to two should be ashamed of yourselves. At first I wasn’t sure what the student was talking about, but he had seen the girls kiss.  The young man was upset that the two girls showed this display of affection in public.  I felt sorry for the girls but understood the young man’s feels as well.  His culture beliefs did not allow for such expressions and one could be outcaste for doing so in public.  The girls seemed to let it roll off without saying anything as if it was an everyday occurrence.

My observation of this situation this week left me wondering how we can better educate our students of the diverse population that they live in.  Instead of sitting back and waiting I spoke with our school psychologist about the lack of education our students have on discrimination, prejudice, and how they stereotype each other.  Her office is in the process of setting up assemblies with the medical field on base to discuss some of these issues with students and the effects of ones actions can have on another student.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

This week we were asked to obtain the definition of culture and diversity from three friends.  I wrote to three colleagues; their definitions were similar to what we have been reading.  One aspect that we’ve studied that my friends spoke of was culture groups (Smidt, 2006).  Some of the examples from their definitions of what is culture: commonality among a group of people, their history, family, traditions, and their beliefs.

The one aspect that was omitted was the dominant culture.  My friends spoke of a mingling of various cultures embracing the differences of one another or multiple cultures interacting in an environment.  No one spoke of how the dominant culture might affect the individual cultures or how these individuals are encouraged to conform to the dominant views.

When thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity I found that my friends’ way of thinking was similar to my own thoughts.  Culture defines who we are as an individual, where diversity is where and/or we fit into the social cultural groups.  I believe that when we think of culture or diversity you have to remember that we are all different but these differences are what make us unique individuals.  The different cultures can provided for an awesome learning opportunity in our diverse classrooms.

My Family Culture

Three items that I would take with me to the evacuating country would be a small photo album, a cookbook and a ipod.   

I would explain that I brought the small photo album to show my children the ancestors and where they came from.  These photos cannot be replaced and represent passed memories of my family.  The cookbook would contain all the traditional family recipes that my mother, grandmother and other family members had cooked for me as a child.  The ipod would hold all the music that I enjoy listening to and the other songs from our country and era of the disaster. 

Upon arrive if I was told that I had to give up two of the items I would be devastated.  I would give up the cookbook and ipod as the photos could not be replaced.  The photos are a link to the past, present and future. 

The insight I gained is that I valued having pictures to remember family members that have since left us for a better place.  I can look at the photos and remember times we shared together and the things they taught me as I was growing up.