Practicing Awareness in Micro Aggressions

This week I became aware of micro aggressions that occur in my daily life and back from another time. The one example that I feel shows the micro aggression I experience is when I play softball in the men's high arc league in softball. I am the only girl that played this year and I heard many statements that made me feel insulted and/or targeted because I was a girl playing with men. These acts were non physical, but were inappropriate to making me feel uncomfortable at times and not even want to play. I feel these were micro insults to me even though I played better than most the men that come. I believe that being the target of a micro aggression actually made me play better and prove to them that girls can play with them. They stereotype that they are better, when in reality softball is typically a women's sport.

While observing this week on my experiences with micro aggressions I have perceived many changes of how I look and feel about the stereotypes that I have on people. I find myself judging people way to quickly, sometimes on their appearance and how they present themselves. After this week, I will research and find more out about their way of life and what they believe in rather than just assume. I believe that for the most part most of my stereotypes of people are unintentional. Especially after this week learning about these interactions I will reflect and accept that everyone is different and lives life differently.

 

 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

As I talked to three different types of people in my life. I talked to my best friend Alisha, whom I feel her and I have many similar ways our culture relates. I also talked to one of my employees at work about how and what she believes for her culture. Then I chose to talk to one of my athletes that I coach. She is the one person who I believe is in some ways culturally different from how I have grown up. She is 14 years old. She defined culture as being at the simple things. Such as gender, race, religion, etc. At her age, I believe this is what they are taught to be culture. Culture in their years, I don't feel expands to what we feel is culture. Until this course, I never looked at deep culture or dominant culture. Her definition of diversity is people not being the same. I asked her to expand her thoughts, and she stated that she believed that everyone is different and they believe and celebrate different types culture. She believed that without diversity culture would be dull and the same.

I feel that without this course, I wouldn't have much knowledge on what is culture and diversity. I have expanded my thoughts on just appearances, such as gender, race, age and class. Everyone's definition is different  for culture and diversity. I feel that with diversity in the classroom especially this will open and influence the minds of young children and early childhood professionals.

My Family Culture

As my family and I are evacuated to another country, I decide to take my family album, my wedding ring, and my softball glove. Being told that we are going to a country that may be permanent, I chose these three items that are dear to my own and families heart.

My family photo album is the most dear to my culture and my life. All these photos explain who is important in my life and families. Pictures explain not only our culture and what we believe in but memories and moments. By just having these pictures, shows that my tradition carries on and is still alive. The moments these pictures describe show our emotions, love, and dedication we give to ourselves and our family.

My next item is my wedding ring. My wedding ring is where ever I am at. I never take it off to even work, coach or play sports. My ring shows devotion and love to my husband. This ring represents who we are a couple and the commitment we give to one another. This item is one item that I would not want to live without or give away.

 

My next item is my softball glove. Not knowing what country we would be living or how long we would be there for, I would choose to have my glove. This glove is not just an item, it represents the love that my family has for all sports. Most of the year whether its for softball, basketball, football, volleyball or even wrestling, my family devotes most our time in sporting events. This glove is an item that I would want to bring with me, to show how much sports play a role in my families culture.

 

After losing our home and moving to another country, I would be completely devastated  if upon arrival I was told I could only keep one personal item.  But thinking about it, as long as I have my family by my side, I would be ok. I would make the best of it, because their lives are more important to me than anything. If I could keep the one item I would choose my family photo album.

I can see after this exercise that items are just items. As long as you have the ones you love and trust by your side, you can face anything that is thrown at you.