Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions
The microaggression that I experienced this week:
My friend was actually telling me "stupid women" jokes. It was very offensive to me as a women. However, the surprise really came when the male friend said that he heard the joke from his female cousin. When I realized that a women was the initiator of the joke, I felt even more disrespected and violated. I was highly insulted that another women would think that jokes like that are funny and would even care to repeat them.
I'm sure there were other forms of microaggressions this week that I missed. With that said, I feel that I had an extensive amount of growth during this week's topic. I realized that, although words are said with unintentional hurt, it can scar a person and be psychologically damaging. I have also learned that I will never quite understand what it means to be discriminated against because of the color of my skin. And no matter how hard I try, I will never fully understand the types of prejudice and stereotypes that others may experience.
Furthermore, I have also learned that people do in fact have some major issues in regards to stereotypes and discrimination. I think it is hard for some people to be self-aware. In conjunction, I have serious doubts that most people want to change their perceptions about others. Unfortunately, I wonder if there will even be a world without prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Perspectives on Diversity and Culture
Perspectives on Diversity and Culture
One person wrote that they think culture equals tradition. And that diversity is a bunch of different cultures coming together.
Another person wrote that diversity is a bunch of different things, people, places... but that culture is about traditions and the way a certain community does things.
The third person was more literal in their definitions but expressed that diversity means different races and ethnicities coming together and that culture has to do with how people treat one another.
Obviously, the simple definitions of the terms are presented here in what people think diversity and culture means to them. However, I think that people fail to see the importance of why we have different cultures and why diversity is so important in today's society. I also have to point out that I posted the question: What is diversity? What is culture? on my Facebook page so that I would get a lot of replies. Sadly, I only got the three replies. This led me to wonder if people are afraid to talk about cultures and diversity, as if these topics are taboo.
I felt that the biggest omission was the conversation that should have taken place about the topics of diversity and culture. I was surprised that with the diversity of my friends and the variety of different cultures that exist among them all, that there was no conversation or sharing going on on my post.
Mainly, I felt that people may be so busy in today's society to even see each others different cultures and share about our diversity.
One person wrote that they think culture equals tradition. And that diversity is a bunch of different cultures coming together.
Another person wrote that diversity is a bunch of different things, people, places... but that culture is about traditions and the way a certain community does things.
The third person was more literal in their definitions but expressed that diversity means different races and ethnicities coming together and that culture has to do with how people treat one another.
Obviously, the simple definitions of the terms are presented here in what people think diversity and culture means to them. However, I think that people fail to see the importance of why we have different cultures and why diversity is so important in today's society. I also have to point out that I posted the question: What is diversity? What is culture? on my Facebook page so that I would get a lot of replies. Sadly, I only got the three replies. This led me to wonder if people are afraid to talk about cultures and diversity, as if these topics are taboo.
I felt that the biggest omission was the conversation that should have taken place about the topics of diversity and culture. I was surprised that with the diversity of my friends and the variety of different cultures that exist among them all, that there was no conversation or sharing going on on my post.
Mainly, I felt that people may be so busy in today's society to even see each others different cultures and share about our diversity.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
My Family Culture
My Family Culture
I'm sad to report that the only item I would take with me and keep is my computer. Within my computer lies the past, present and future of me, my family and extended relatives. I would begin by scanning and saving all of my family photos that are still loose or in photo albums, so as to keep these memories with me as well.
I'm sure we all notice that our lives revolve around the computer. Our photos get stored here, our homework is stored here, our personal papers and things like budgets are stored here on our computers everyday. Most importantly, the computer has given us all the tools to communicate and keep in touch with our family, no matter where they live in the world. Social media sites such as Facebook and MySpace have offered us tools to IM with our family and friends, send emails and update the status of not only our daily doings but also our daily whereabouts. We have other forms of communication, such as Email, Instagram and even Twitter to allow us to be connected every minute of everyday of our lives.
Needless to say, this may seem like a cliche to some. However, all I have our photos to remind me of my family and friends. I wouldn't go so far as to call myself alone, but my mom lives one place, my dad another, and my best friend in another! Without my photos and social media sites, it would be hard to keep up with the daily going-ons!
Although I am lucky to have strong bonds with family and friends, it is unfortunate that my family is not heavily into a "culture." I know that I am some German and some Swedish. One set of grandparents comes from Massachusetts and another set came from Illinois. Beyond that, I do not know much about my family origins or the culture in which they came from.
My main insight when it comes to family culture is: I question whether or not my relatives did not carry on their culture, what ever it may be, because they came to the United States as foreigners, were made to assimilate and were stripped of their cultural differences.
I'm sad to report that the only item I would take with me and keep is my computer. Within my computer lies the past, present and future of me, my family and extended relatives. I would begin by scanning and saving all of my family photos that are still loose or in photo albums, so as to keep these memories with me as well.
I'm sure we all notice that our lives revolve around the computer. Our photos get stored here, our homework is stored here, our personal papers and things like budgets are stored here on our computers everyday. Most importantly, the computer has given us all the tools to communicate and keep in touch with our family, no matter where they live in the world. Social media sites such as Facebook and MySpace have offered us tools to IM with our family and friends, send emails and update the status of not only our daily doings but also our daily whereabouts. We have other forms of communication, such as Email, Instagram and even Twitter to allow us to be connected every minute of everyday of our lives.
Needless to say, this may seem like a cliche to some. However, all I have our photos to remind me of my family and friends. I wouldn't go so far as to call myself alone, but my mom lives one place, my dad another, and my best friend in another! Without my photos and social media sites, it would be hard to keep up with the daily going-ons!
Although I am lucky to have strong bonds with family and friends, it is unfortunate that my family is not heavily into a "culture." I know that I am some German and some Swedish. One set of grandparents comes from Massachusetts and another set came from Illinois. Beyond that, I do not know much about my family origins or the culture in which they came from.
My main insight when it comes to family culture is: I question whether or not my relatives did not carry on their culture, what ever it may be, because they came to the United States as foreigners, were made to assimilate and were stripped of their cultural differences.
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