Micriaggresssion

I do not recall experiencing or observing any instances of microaggression this week, but I can share an example that my daughter told me about.  

Many of the clubs in the Kansas City metro area that are popular with those in their twenties have dress codes.  My daughter has observed that entry into the clubs for males is often based on the person’s race rather than what they are wearing.  A white man may be allowed entry to the club while a person of color, who is wearing the same type of clothing, will be denied entry.  My daughter told me that some of her friends, who are men of color, keep extra clothes in their car so that if they have been denied entry, they can change clothes to see if that will make a difference.  This is an example of how decisions are made based on a person’s color.  This is an example of what Margles & Margles (2010) refer to as “the attribution of characteristics and capabilities, limitations and propensities to entire groups based  on the colour of their skin and other physical features” (p.138).   

The resources, readings, and discussions as well as the results of the online tests that I took have all helped me gain a deeper understanding of how pervasive discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping are and how far reaching their affects are.  It has also given me the chance to reflect further on my own journey towards being more accepting of all types of differences.   

Reference

Margles, S. & Margles, M., (2010).  Inverting racism’s distortions. Our Schools/Our    

           Selves, 19(3), 137-149.  Retrieved from

http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=51372248&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Week 3 Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Defining Culture and Diversity-Three Perspectives

I asked 3 very different people to share their definition of culture and diversity.  Following are their definitions.

#1  Culture- the traditions and customs of a people.  The language and characteristics of a group will also help define a people’s culture.  A group’s shared beliefs, art, literature and shared customs.

      Diversity- The differences within a culture or group of people.  Describes a place where there is a melting pot of race, color, religion, and educational backgrounds.  Yet with all this diversity the group as a whole feels like one.

#2  Culture- the general way that a group of people live

      Diversity- a wide range of things 

#3  Culture- the mores, attitudes and traditions that define people and distinguishes them from another group of people.

      Diversity- the willingness to accept and validate the cultures of individuals in the context of a homogeneous culture.

I was very impressed by the definitions that were shared.  They tended to be comprehensive and insightful.  Each combined aspects of culture and diversity that we have studied in this course.  The first definition of culture includes several of the characteristics, such as language, art and literature, that Derman-Sparks & Edwards (2010)  include when defining deep culture.  The second definition of culture reinforces the inclusive and comprehensive nature of culture, which is described by Derman-Sparks & Edwards (2010) as the “way we eat, sleep, talk, play, care for the sick, relate to one another, think about work, arrange our kitchens, and remember our dead” (p. 55).  

The definitions of diversity also support aspects that I have learned in this course.  The first definition is especially insightful and reflects on the differences among us but also that which unites us.  The third definition also offers a theme of acceptance and respect, which are both critical aspects of the process of understanding diversity.  The second definition explains the vast range of possible variations among individuals or groups. 

Overall, I think these definitions, when combined, are comprehensive.  While the definitions of culture are general in nature, the generality can be seen as encompassing all possible characteristics of culture.  The definitions of diversity probably do not include some of the deeper aspects of diversity such as differences within and across individuals and groups.

Reflecting on these definitions has caused me to have a greater appreciation for the various ways that people think about this topic.  It has also made me thing about  how I would have defined these words had someone asked me to do this for them.  It has also been interesting to think about how the personal experiences, education and cultural identity of each of the people I asked to help with this assignment might have influenced their definitions. 

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young

children and 

ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Perspectives on Diversity and Equity

Blog Assignment Week 2

My Family Culture

The three things that I would take with me are

• ·      a small family photo album- contains photos of my children when they were young  and photos of other family members taken on significant occasions such as wedding photos.
• ·      a cross and chain –very simple silver chain with small, ornate silver and gold cross
• ·      wedding ring- gold, antique-look wedding band and a solitaire diamond that was my grandmother’s diamond.

The reason that I chose the photo album seems self-explanatory.  It would be important for me to have images of those to whom I am most connected or who played some important role in my family’s history.  I chose the cross and chain because this is a symbol of my Catholic faith.  It is something that reminds me of how I should behave, what my worldview should be and provides me with hope and comfort when I wear it.  I chose the wedding ring because for me, it symbolizes the bond that I have with my husband and my own adult family.  It also reminds me of my grandmother for whom I have fond memories and great respect, since it contains the diamond from her wedding ring.  It is also something that I could pass down to my own children.  

Choosing only one of these items would prove very difficult since they are all very precious to me.  I think that I could somehow fashion a small cross that could take the place of the cross and chain.  If I found that I could only keep one item, I would most likely be the photo album.  Having family photos would be important especially if this scenario involved being separated from family members.  This is also an item that I would be very interested in passing on to my own children.

This exercise gave me the chance to reflect on what I value and the connection between what I value and my family culture.  As Harris (2008) explains religious beliefs are a social factor that shape families.  The choice of the cross and chain is related to my Catholic upbringing and my own choice of religion as an adult.  The choice of the wedding ring and the photo album seem related to the concept of boundaries described by Christian (2006) who explains that in an enmeshed family,  “the individual’s identity is very much tied to the family” (p. 14).  I think my choices also reflect the family-oriented, traditional and conservative aspects of my family culture.  It will be interesting to read other postings to see what items others chose.  I would assume that most people would chose family photos, but I also realize that this assumption is based on my own experience and family culture.   

I think that I will learn as much about myself, my family culture and diversity from reading the other blogs as I did from doing this assignment. 

Reference:

Christian, L. G. (2006). Understanding families: applying family systems theory to early childhood practices theory. Young Children, 61(1), 12-20.  Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/docview/197591231

Harris, S. R. (2008). What is family diversity? Objective and interpretive approaches. Journal of Family Issues, 29(11), 1407–1417.
  Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201360_04/MS_MECS/EDUC_6164/Week%202/Resources/Resources/embedded/Harris2008.pdf