One example of a microaggression I remember was from a friend of mine. I spent a lot of time at her house talking to her. I also spent a lot of time with my Vietnamese friends. Our neighborhood was changing in diversity. The neighborhood at that time had Hispanics, Vietnamese, African American, and Whites living in the community. She looked out the window at one of the houses where a Vietnamese family lived, and mentioned that they needed to move back where they came from. Although we were inside her house and the neighbors could not hear her, I did. I did not like her talking about the Vietnamese family like that. I did not know that particular family that well, but I knew one of them. I also knew the Vietnamese family that lived next to me. I think I told her that they were a nice family.
My observation experiences this week made me more aware of discrimination, prejudice, and or stereotypes. I feel I am a little more aware of things that I or others might say can affect others. This week I have found myself thinking about things from more than one perspective. I try to imagine how I would feel if someone said something like that to me. I also have started trying to think of why some people do things that they do. If they still feed their child at the age of three, it is probably because of their culture. Not the view I would have had before this class.
Sometimes we believe that it is easier to group certain people into one category, not realizing that we are all different. As an example, we just need to look at our own family, do we behave the same, have same taste, or act the same way? then why do we need to judge and/or discriminate another race based on the experience or prejudice we might have towards that culture. We need to put ourselves in their shoes and see if we feel the same way if the situation will be the opposite.
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal,
ReplyDeletePeople are often taught to believe certain things without evidence or facts. We hear assumptions and stereotypes about immigrants or certain groups of people and we eventually believe them. We never stop and think “Why do I believe these things about a specific race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation etc.?” Is it something that I myself have seen firsthand, and know to be true or am I just buying into the stereotypes, assumptions and discrimination that I have been taught by others, the media, popular culture etc. It is so great that you spoke up for the family in your scenario. Many people would have remained quiet or joined and followed.
Rhiannon
Crystal being aware of what we say is important whether people are around or not. That just shows her negative attitude towards Vietnamese. How would she feel if the shoe was on the other foot. Some things people do have to do with their culture and so things are just simply microaggressions.
ReplyDeleteCrystal I work with a lot of Vietnamese families I learn a lot from there culture. They would bring in food to eat. I happen one parent he was been in this country for 20 years and he would she that his wife is fresh off the boat. I would tell him that not nice.
ReplyDelete