An experience that I had this previous school year was with one of my students at Head Start. The little boy was 3-years-old and he was being raised by his mother. The little boy loved the color pink, loved playing with the girls, and loved putting on dress-up clothes, including the dresses. I didn't think much about this as my own son (4) likes the color pink and has a girl as his best friend. However, my assistant thought it was very odd behavior. She would make comments all the time saying, "I can't wait to see him in 10 years." One day he was playing in the art center and he begged a little girl to color his fingernails with markers. Again, my assistant made comments about him turning gay in the future. We did a parent-teacher conference and the mother brought up the fact that this child likes her to paint his nails. She said she just went with it and if he turns out gay in the future it would be ok. I hadn't really thought much about this but after learning about microaggressions I have thought of this child and my teacher assistant. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by her comments but her subtle comments implied that this child was going to be gay when he got older. She was using microinsults, microgender, and stereotyping him because he liked pink, dressing up, and painting his nails. It made me feel bad because my own child likes the color pink. I felt like by her assuming that this student will be gay then she was assuming my own son would be as well. I also felt worried because my son went to a preschool program and I was worried about what his teachers thought of him liking the color pink. It made me feel sad.
I have really learned a lot this week about hidden messages on things we say or how it affects other people, even if we don't mean anything by it. Words hurt. I am going to be more careful with my words and make sure that I try my best not to use microaggressions on anyone. This observation made me realize how quickly we can judge someone and we shouldn't. This boy was judged because he liked some things that girls like. We do not judge girls if they like the color blue or like playing with cars or trucks. We have to be careful about our actions.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Perspectives on Diversity and Culture
I asked 3 different people to tell me their definition of culture and diversity. The first person that I spoke with is a former co-worker, Kimberly. Kimberly told me that she thinks of culture as the background one grows up in, where the person lives, their way of life, values, and traditions. She thinks of diversity as people from other cultures that have different beliefs, values, and customs. I believe what she says touches on some of the things that we have learned the past three weeks in this course. However, I think more of her definitions touch on the surface culture instead of deep culture.
Another person that I spoke with is a family friend. Her name is Rosa and her family moved here from Mexico when she was a baby. Her definition of culture and diversity goes along with what we have learned. She believes that culture is everywhere and in everything we do. Her belief is that the way that we do things, such as our customs, stems from our culture. Her family still has the values they brought with them from Mexico, although they have added American culture as well.
Another person that I spoke with is the parent of a child in my classroom. His definition of culture and diversity is the things we do, where we come from, and how we do things. He believes culture is a group of people that come from the same place and share the same beliefs.
I was pleased to see that a lot of their answers are some of the same things that we have learned in this class so far. I was able to have a conversation with each of them and explain what I had learned about diversity and culture. It was a very good experience to be able to share these things with others.
Another person that I spoke with is a family friend. Her name is Rosa and her family moved here from Mexico when she was a baby. Her definition of culture and diversity goes along with what we have learned. She believes that culture is everywhere and in everything we do. Her belief is that the way that we do things, such as our customs, stems from our culture. Her family still has the values they brought with them from Mexico, although they have added American culture as well.
Another person that I spoke with is the parent of a child in my classroom. His definition of culture and diversity is the things we do, where we come from, and how we do things. He believes culture is a group of people that come from the same place and share the same beliefs.
I was pleased to see that a lot of their answers are some of the same things that we have learned in this class so far. I was able to have a conversation with each of them and explain what I had learned about diversity and culture. It was a very good experience to be able to share these things with others.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
My Family Culture
There are many items that mean a lot to me and only picking three would be difficult. The three items that I would choose to bring me to another country to represent my culture would be my bible, my family scrapbook, and mine and my family's birth certificates. I would bring the scrapbook because it has pictures of all our family members and different events, celebrations, and vacations that we did together as a family. It represents the importance of family and togetherness. The bible represents our christian views and our religion. It is based on our faith in God and his word to inspire us. This is a part of my culture that I would not give up. I would bring the birth certificats as part of our cultural identity. It shows where we came from and is a part of us.
On arriving and being told that I had to give up 2 of the items, I would feel very sad and powerless. I would not want to give up any of the items that I brought it. I would feel like I was losing a part of myself and a part of culture by giving up those things that I hold dear to my heart. It would be hard deciding which items to give up.
This was somewhat difficult for me and I had to give it a lot of thought. I learned that some things that I wouldn't think of as being part of my culture are a part of my culture. These are things that I have taken for granted and just assumed would always be here. It must be difficult for others coming to a new country to keep up with their own cultures when they are emerged in ours. I need to make sure that in the classroom I am doing everything that I can to make sure these children and their families do not feel like they have to give up things from their culture to fit into ours.
On arriving and being told that I had to give up 2 of the items, I would feel very sad and powerless. I would not want to give up any of the items that I brought it. I would feel like I was losing a part of myself and a part of culture by giving up those things that I hold dear to my heart. It would be hard deciding which items to give up.
This was somewhat difficult for me and I had to give it a lot of thought. I learned that some things that I wouldn't think of as being part of my culture are a part of my culture. These are things that I have taken for granted and just assumed would always be here. It must be difficult for others coming to a new country to keep up with their own cultures when they are emerged in ours. I need to make sure that in the classroom I am doing everything that I can to make sure these children and their families do not feel like they have to give up things from their culture to fit into ours.
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