Microaggressions

 

When most people think about discrimination and racism, they reflect upon historical atrocities that targeted cultural and racial groups. In Canada, federal government actions such as internment of the Japanese, Germans and Ukrainians are examples. Treatment of First Nations children is currently under the public eye as the courts investigate treatment of children residing in Residential Schools. Although blatant racism is less obvious in today’s society, it still exists in a variety of different forms.

Derald Wing Sue ( 2013).  Microsaggression.  Retrieved  from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_lQNI9T6vs

Microsaggression is one of the most dangerous forms because it is subtle discriminatory actions demonstrated by well-intentioned individuals. Although these actions are not perceived to be harmful, they are reflecting a larger community view influenced by stereotypes and positions of power which result in intentional inclusive and exclusive attitudes and behaviors.

An example of a microaggressive action that I experienced involved a compliment about my clothing, by a relative who historically has made passive aggressive comments throughout my lifetime “I love you dress it is classy, so flattering on you”. Although the statement superficially appears to be complimentary. This comment can be interpreted in so many different ways. It could be a comment about my weight, socioeconomic status or my ability to choose clothing that is appropriate.

Microassault (Racism)

Microinsult (demeans heritage, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or age)

Microinvalidation(invalidates experiential reality)

Sources

Beauty Shot.  Retrieved January 26, 2014 from http://www.takepart.com/photos/fake-photoshop-ads-women-media-anna-hil

Genderbread person. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from   http://slcmicroaggressions.tumblr.com/

Hair touch. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from   http://www.tsdmemphis.com/~rtmmemph/index.php/news/15645-subtle-racism-damages-health

Haters. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from   http://conditionallyaccepted.com/category/microaggressions/

Language. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from  http://racialicious.tumblr.com/post/15708473861/awkwardprivilegeaskingnationality

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Microsaggression in Everyday Life. (Video webcast). Retrieved from  https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_4211916_1%26url%3D

Microagression. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/29/1242339/-Racial-and-gendered-microaggressions-and-hypersensitivity-or-one-last-straw-after-another

Things people don’t Say bout Men. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from  http://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/brand-thingspeopledontsayaboutmen-twitter-tackles-microaggressions/

Genderbread person. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from   http://slcmicroaggressions.tumblr.com/

Wheelchair. Retrieved January 26, 2014 from     http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/confined-disability-language-microaggression-0315124/

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Culture is a term that has different connotations to individuals. This can be a result of family, age, experience, and self-awareness. Three people were interviewed and asked comment on their ideas of culture and diversity in Canada.

The first person is a 76 year old woman, who grew up during the depression, on a farm. Her grandfather and mother escaped oppressive conditions overseas, but the cost of their freedom was to leaving her grandmother and ailing aunt behind. They never reunited. To this woman, my mother, culture means understanding your family heritage. Maintaining traditions will keep you attached to your family and “culture” regardless of where you live. To my mother, diversity means differences and the different ways that people do things.

The second person interviewed is a 50 year old woman who grew up in Trinidad and immigrated to Canada. To this person, culture also means maintaining family recipes and traditions. However, it includes yearly visits and weekly phone calls to the family who remained in Trinidad. My friend believes that Canada is her country, although born in Trinidad. Her children born in Canada have adjusted to the different lifestyle. Visits to see family often leave her frustrated, as a warm climate, collective focus and community size result in a slower pace of life and laid back lifestyle. This woman sees Canada a being diverse and accepting of different cultures, beliefs, and attitudes.

The third person interviewed is a 25 year old male, born in Canada. To him, culture entails being aware of other people and experienced in the “ways” of other people, travel is dominant in his world. For this man, some family recipes are intergenerational and remind him of his grandparents. However, as members of his family reside across Canada, he has a different perspective on diversity. He believes diversity exists in Canadian communities and evolves with the introduction of new Canadians

I have learned that culture family experiences, as well as experience of my community influence my culture.  There are many cultures within; my work culture, home culture, maternal culture, global culture, and social culture.  We can not generalize based upon what we think we know about a person based upon their culture. What we see is only the tip of their cultural experiences.
 

 

Sources:

 

Building a New Home.  Retrieved January 21, 2014 from http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/50/commemoration.shtml

Village in Trinadad.  Retrieved January 21, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tyler-wetherall/havana-in-a-day_b_1883175.htm

We are the World.  Retrieved January  21, 2014 from http://www.83toinfinity.com/tag/multiculturalism/

 

 

 

My Family Culture

We learn about other cultures and arm’s length experience the impact of immigration, based upon the stories from friends, colleagues and students. Some of us may also study the impact of immigration to improve our perspectives. However, what we would do if, we were forced to leave our homes and country. What would we take? How would our choices impact our future experiences?

 

If I had to evacuate with no chance of return and could only take three things, the choice would be difficult. One item that I would choose is the family photo album. This includes photos of grandparents, parents, my sibling and relatives. I would also take my wallet, which has all personal identification and methods to access money or credit. Finally, I would take a cookbook that contains the recipes of foods that are prepared in conjunction with family celebrations including Christmas, Easter, and birthdays.

 

However, in accordance with Maslow's hierarchy of needs, if required to select only one of these three items, the wallet would be the essential to establishing a new life within a new country. I would transfer several photos of the immediate family to it, prior to abandoning the photo album.

This exercise has stimulated thought processes about saving critical information so that it can be accessed virtually.  Cloud computing would be another method to preserve some of those irreplaceable items such a photos.  I have recently learnt that life span of information that  saved to Cd or DVD formats can be 2 to 5 years, in spite of advertised life expectancy of up to 25 years.


Sources:

Immigration Picture.  Retrieved January 16, 2014 from  http://www.blogmost.com/benefits-of-immigration/

Maslov's Hierarchy of Needs.  Retrieved January 16, 2014 from http://intuitiontellsmeso.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/problemnegative-thought-patterns-becoming-aware/maslows-hierarchy/

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.  (n.d.),  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Optical Storage Media: Storing Temporary Records on CDs and DVDs .  Retrieved January 14, 2013 from http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/initiatives/temp-opmedia-faq.html

Perspective, Diversity and Equity

For the next eight weeks I will be addressing the  subjects of perspective, diversity and equity.  I look forward to learning more about the topics and applying the information to my day to day practise. 

 

 

Babies retrieved January 04, 2014 fromhttp://www.inmagine.com/kcd00153/kcd00153011-photo