Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Tuesday I was in Wal-Mart with my 1 year old son and my 9 year old daughter. As we passed the bikes my son start to fuss because he wanted to ride the bike through the store. I picked him up and proceed to go in the other direction he screamed for about 2 minutes then was quiet. When we reached the household items there was a Asian couple asking a Caucasian worker for help locating a specific item. The Asian couple proceeded to leave the Caucasian worker mumbled “we need to hire they people to help them”. This is an example of microinvalidation and microinsult. I understand the frustration on both parties’ behalf the worker unable to fully understand the customer’s request. And the customer inability to receive the help requested. The worker left the customer powerless with his comments also exhibiting his frustration communicating with the customer. This type of microaggression occurs every day. Although the Asian couple did not hear the worker comments I did. I felt the worker was very unprofessional to make such a rude comment. The worker did not consider the everyday struggle the Asian couple encounters trying to adapt to the American culture and speak English. I actually reported the worker for his comment as if I was the Asian couple I would appreciate someone defending my diversity and understanding the challenge language barriers produce.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Person 1:  I believe diversity is different... We all are not the same but we can get along and come to a common ground

Culture would be background... The way you were raised and or taught to do things.. Whether it's race, community, or dependence. It also brings about how you handle situations, eating, raising families etc...

Person 2:  Culture is a mindset/state of being. Diversity is political driven propaganda, to manipulate a culture..

Person 3: Culture is a group of people who share similar qualities such as religion, language, social habits. Diversity in culture is basically understanding while people may come from the same social demographic the differences in age, race, economic status, educational level, life experiences make each individual unique. How boring would life be if we all had the same thoughts and did the same thing as everyone else day in and day out!

As I reflected on the answers I received from others I realized each person interprets culture and diversity differently. In week 1 culture was defined as the way one perceives the world. Person two acknowledge in terms of deep culture beyond the surface covering ethnicity language relations food and much more. Person one defined diversity in political terms we have not addresses thus far. After receiving many different responses on how to define culture and diversity. I choose two answers specifically, one I felt parallel my own personal definition and the other answer that varied the furthest from my personal definition. The responses validated the difference in each person perception of culture and diversity.

My Family Culture

In  the event I have no choice but to choose only three items dear to my heart representing my families culture I would choose my photo album because it has pictures of all my family members over the years at our celebrations. I would take a small bronze elephant statue because it represents the backbone of our family and lastly I would take a medium sized cast iron skillet. My family is a cooking family every time we have a gathering food is the center. The cast iron skillet is the one cooking dish I need to cook multiple dishes. If I have to limit my three items down to one I would choose the photo album, I can replace an cast iron skillet and a bronze elephant but the photos are memorizes I will cherish for eternity. Photos are irreplaceable, the hold the most value a represent my family culture.