Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people 


"Microaggressions are brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental, that they may be intentional or unintentionally communicated to women, to people of color, to gay/lesbians that have an insulting message behind them that often time causes severe psychological distress and harm" (Laureate Education, 2011).

This week I was hyper aware of cases of microaggressions. I found the most examples in the media. While driving to work I was listening to my favorite morning show. The hosts were bantering back and forth as they typically do when one said to the other " you're at the bottom of the totem pole buddy". Had I heard this discussion a week earlier I wouldn't have batted an eyelash at the phrase as it has become common in the American lexicon. However, in the past week I learned about microagressions and the unconscious indignities that that impose. I also happened to learn that the phrase in and of itself is wrong. The phrase is meant to say that one is not important, a priority, or a leader among a group of individuals. However in Native American tradition the leaders and most important people or characters from stories are placed at the bottom of the totem pole rather than the top. My sister shared this information with me after learning it from a Native American presenter at a work function who shared that and other offenses Americans commonly make without realizing it. When I first heard the host say the phrase I immediately thought " oh wow there is a microaggression that I never would have thought about". Being an African American I could write a long list of microaggressions that I've experienced or heard of from close friends and family however I never really thought of what would be considered a microgragression to another minority group. My observation this week helped me realize that I am not as aware of discrimination as I previously thought. I have always considered myself well educated and sensitive to the cultures and traditions of others. This experience has helped me further understand that being sensitive and aware is not always enough.

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

• This week I was challenged with asking three people with various backgrounds to define what the words "culture" and "diversity" mean to them. Here are those responses:
•  
• A.W.
• 
  Culture is the beliefs, ways of life, and thinking of a group of people. I believe ones culture can evolve through life experiences, however there will always be traces of their original culture. As a child, culture is presented to you through your parents beliefs and actions. Culture also depends on the area in which people live and can be influenced/challenged by outside sources.
  
  Diversity is the combination of many different races and cultures in a group. Some people are open to diverse situations and others steer clear of them. Having grown up in Northern Virginia, I have been exposed to diversity from a young age. To me, diversity is natural and I don't look at people based on their race or beliefs. On the other hand, I have family members from small towns in the Mid-West who being in diversity situations make them uncomfortable so they try to steer clear of them.
•  
• B.A.
•  
• My definition of culture is all of the influences in one's life that shape who the are, whether they be family, education, lived experiences, etc.
  
  
   My definition of diversity goes beyond race/ethnicity and gender to include people of different abilities, ways of thinking, and personalities coming together.
   
• A. J.
•  
• To me, culture is the collection of factors that distinguish a person or community. Culture consists of a variety of factors but also is fluid and evolves and can be influenced by entities and concepts from outside of the culture.
•  
• Diversity is the presence of differing perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, groups, and approaches.

 I am impressed with the depth and breadth of understanding of culture and diversity that was shared with me.  I am mostly impressed because I believe all the areas of culture and diversity that have been discussed in this course were mentioned such as "culture is the beliefs, ways of life, and thinking of a group of people", "culture can evolve", "diversity goes beyond race/ethnicity and gender to include people of different abilities..." and "culture is the collection of factors that distinguish a person or community."

I can not think of any factors of culture or diversity that were omitted. Other's definitions of these two words has influenced my own thinking because it makes me hopeful that more people have a true understandings of the depth of the meaning of the two words.

My Family Culture

I have been challenged with the following hypothetical situation:
 
Imagine the following:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

 
1. How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you
2. Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you
3. Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise,

I would chose to take with me my family tree portfolio, educational material, angel from the top of the Christmas. I created the family tree portfolio in high school which includes artifacts and information from both my mother and father's sides of the family along with audio recording of family members sharing what they know about from oral accounts about our ancestors. I choose this item because it is a reminder of how far my family has come and would serve as a source of inspiration as we embark on a new phase of our journey. The next item I choose was a dictionary because it represents education. Education has always been a very important presence in my family. Several of my family members were educators and education played a significant role in the success of my family post slavery and the civil rights movement. The final item I choose is the angel that my family places on the top of our Christmas tree every year. the angel represents the part of my family's culture that celebrates and embraces the Christmas holiday and all that it means. My family gathers to decorate the tree with the angel being the last item to be placed on the tree. We get to spend the most amount of time together during this time of the year and it is considered precious. This time of year of course also celebrates an important part of our religion.
If I were told upon arrival that I could only take one item i would feel hurt and betrayed. It would be an extremely difficult decision but I think I would choose the family tree portfolio. I would choose it as a reminder that we've overcome adversity and seemingly impossible situations and as inspiration to continue to persevere. I realized that ti was very difficult to choose items that represent my family's culture because some of the most important aspects of my family aren't easily represented by concrete objects.

When I think of Research.....

Blog Assignment: When I Think of Research...
As you conclude your studies of research, take time to reflect on the experience:

• What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?
• In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?
• What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?
• What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?
• What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

From the first time I saw the title of this course listed in the course guide for the master's program I was dreading it. I have never enjoyed the research process and assumed it would be even worse at the elevated graduate level. After only a few weeks into the course that dread faded away. The greatest gain for me is the ability to read research and break it down into it's components. I can more readily glean information from a research article whereas previously much of the language and design was foreign and seemed convoluted. My ideas about the nature of research has changed. Previously I found many of the steps to seem unnecesary or redundant, now that I have experience creating my own similation and reading the work of other researchers I have a greater appreciation and understanding for the process. One of the major lesson that I have learned about planning and designing research is that it mimics the writing process in that it requires multiple edits and revisions to pinpoint the specific variables you wish to study and to focus your guiding questions. I was challenged with the discussion questions that kick started the new topic for the week. I found that early in the week I had a tough time wrapping my mind around a new topic and understanding it well enough to articulate a response. I found it extremely helpful to read the posts of my classmates to help me gain clarity. My perception of an early childhood professional has been modified as a result of this course. I now feel empowered to seek out research and read the results first hand rather than wait for a third party source to share the information with me free of jargon.


I would like to thank my classmates who took this journey with me. In the beginning many of us stated our concerns and fears regarding this coursework. I hope that you all found it to be a fresh way to explore and understand the research process with just the right amount of challenge. I hope that you feel the same sense of pride in having accomplished the goal of completing this course!

International Research: Australia

In this week's post I was given the opportunity to explore early childhood research internationally. I chose to find out more about Autstralia's efforts in the field. To guide my search I focused on these guiding questions:

• What are some of the current international research topics?
• What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?
• What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

 In Australia some of the current research topics are how to teach children sustainability practices, how to teach children positive behavior and the importance of play and the quality of play.I was very intrigued by the work being done to integrate a strong understanding of the importance of our environment and how to sustain it. I have a friend who is currently working on a masters in Australia in the field of environment protection and sustainability. Through his experiences I have learned more about the general perspective of Australians regarding the environment and the research that is being done. So, I was pleased to learn that the influence is trickling down to the children, educating them so that as they grow up sustainability practices are the norm rather than a hassle. I certainly believe the U.S. should adopt similar practices.While visiting the website I learned that the organization produces a publication that explains and summarizes recent research findings in language that is clear and free of jargon for any child care providers to read including parents and professionals. I often find that many of the latest findings in our  field remain within the field rather than being shared with the general public so that they may also make use of the new knowledge in their daily practices with children. I am pleased to see that there is a forum for new research to be shared with the general public.

Research Benefiting Children and Families

This week I was charged with responding to the following prompt:

Imagine that you possess the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or their families. What topic would you choose? What can you imagine the positive contribution(s) would be?

I would choose to study families and poverty. Previously this has not been a huge interest for me however I have always recognized the significant impact it has on families in all aspects of life for generations. I know that any research with significant findings would be beneficial to these families. While I am not sure exactly what the research would focus on I would like its findings to provide practical guidance for impoverished families. The research would give hope to families proving that the means that are available to them are enough for their children to overcome the cycle. Such means would include the ability to instill love, a sense of safety, and self-worth in their children among others. The research would even give examples of how this can be done. In time and with hard work these sensibilities could help children lift themselves at least one level higher within the income level of their community. This would lead to a new cycle of prosperity. I am not naive enough to think that just one study can do all this but I am hopeful that it can be a catalyst to a few who with hard work ,and opportunity can improve their way of life and that of their family for generations to come. The most important part in the research and quite possibly the most challenging would be to share its findings with families and to get them to believe in the study and put forth what is sure to be hard work. Great research is beneficial to no one if it is not first believed in and then implemented with fidelity. 

 

Research Simulation

 The topic I have chosen for the simulation is; How can parents help establish a strong mathematical foundation before children reach school age. I choose this topic because many parents don't realize small steps that they can take to help support mathematical concepts at a young age. Many families understand the importance of reading or just do so natural as it is a common practice to read to children. When it comes to math many wait for school and teachers to begin this process. I would also like to learn about what parents can do once their children become school age. I think a challenge to this topic will be findings articles as I tend to have some trouble thinking of key words and phrases to search for in the library database. Any suggests would be appreciated.