Awareness of Microaggressions

This week, I heard a five year old girl, while playing, discuss the size of toy trucks.  She stated, “The smaller trucks are for the girls, and the bigger ones are for the boys.”  She was told that the size of the trucks have nothing to do with gender.  When she was asked why she said this, she replied that boys are stronger than girls; therefore they get the bigger trucks.  The message conveyed here was that boys are stronger than girls.

I am from the south, and have a Southern twang.  I was once a bit ashamed of this, but now I draw my words out with pride!  I was once told, “You talk funny!  Are you sure you have a college degree? Weren’t you taught how to speak correctly?”  The implication was that I was dumb because I was Southern and spoke differently, even though it was proper English, just a little slower than others!  This made me feel ashamed, and for a while, I tried to make my spoken language in public appear less than Southern, which was uncomfortable and unnatural.  Now, I am proud of this, and I feel that I can express myself freely.

Thinking about these microaggressions made me reflect on how these often unintended messages have lasting impacts.  I also have learned that it is important to empower children, families, and ourselves with the ability to combat microaggressions.  Education is a tool for this, as well as direct confrontation when microaggressions occur.

Definitions of Culture and Diversity

I asked several people their definition of culture and diversity, and only received four replies.

Here are the replies I received.

“Culture is a set of attitudes, rules of behavior and beliefs held commonly within a society. Diversity is the extent to which things differ.”

“Culture is defined as developing or improving the mind by education or training.  Diversity is accepting others for their differences.”

 “Culture has two meanings.  The first is refined, steeped in proper etiquette and good manners...as in "Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with the Wind) was a very cultured southern woman.
The second definition is the area and family in which you were raised that taught you a particular set of values...as in "He was raised in a good Catholic family and was taught to go to Mass every week and to be respectful of his elders."  Diversity was defined as, “Usually used in the context of a population that is different from one another...as in, "The town I grew up in had a lower, middle-class group of working-class, blue-collar kind of people as well as an upper-middle class group of professional people. Also, diversity can be thought as a wide-ranging group of ideas...as in "During our brainstorming session, we came up with a diverse amount of ideas for solving the problem." (*Suggested looking up definition in dictionary)

The last person looked up the definition in a dictionary and did not give their personal definition of culture and diversity.  It was interesting to compare and contrast the dictionary definition to the other definitions that were given.  I am not sure if this is from Webster’s or another online dictionary, but it reads, “Culture is the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations b : the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group ; also: the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life; shared by people in a place or time ‹popular ~› ‹southern ~› c : the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization ‹a corporate ~ focused on the bottom line› d : the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic. 

I found it interesting that one person defined culture and diversity with a dictionary, and another suggested I research this myself in a dictionary, and these were the two oldest people I asked.  I found it interesting that the definitions were very broad and some included identities that some may associate with (i.e. religious affiliation, geographical location, and social class).  I did see an expression of the dominant culture, when working class was referenced.   

I think a working definition of surface culture is represented, not deep culture.  If you used these definitions to get to know someone, this would be surface level, and not really know about traditions, values, expressions of emotions, relationships, etc. 

Prior to this class, I would have defined culture and diversity in a very broad sense as well.  I think having such a broad definition of culture often limits us as we work with children, because we only apply surface level thinking, and do not go deep into the student’s culture.  I have decided to make every effort to go deep into the culture, not just scratch the surface.

Items of Importance

If I received word that I would be evacuating from my country, I would first choose my Bible.  I would explain that this is where I draw my strength from, and that I need it to help instruct my daughter in the Christian faith, as well as help feed myself spiritually.  I also have family events chronicled in the front of the Bible, and this could serve as a reminder of important family events (births, deaths, mission trips, spiritual decisions). 

The next item I would take would be a quilt that my Grandmother made me that I have now passed down to my daughter.  It has seen a lot of my life, and holds many precious memories!  My grandmother was a very important woman in my life, and I still feel her influence.  Taking a quilt made by her would help me feel secure with all the changes that might take place in a new country.

The third item I would take would be family photos.  My husband and I both enjoy telling family history to our daughter, and this is a great way to share that history.  I would also like to take wedding photos and other photos of importance.

Wow!  What a difficult question in regards to what one item I would take with me.  After careful consideration, I would have to say that I would keep my Bible.  This is where I go for a source of comfort and words that I want my daughter to know and aid her in her spiritual growth.  I also can read guidance about being a mother and wife in the pages of God’s word.

I realized in doing this that most of my culture is closely tied to non-materialistic items.  I would not choose money over memories.  I also reflected on the importance of family in my life, and how our culture is meaningful to us.