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.
Hey Kristi - I wanted to tell you about a book I read called Pink Brain Blue Brain all about gender development in children. Its a neat read if you want to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI find it funny that you mention the truck incident. A close family friend came down with her 4 year-old son for Thanksgiving. Well when he first came over he ran out of her room and his mom said why aren't you playing and he said all the toys were girl toys. Well being the perosn I am I asked him to show me the girl toys and when we went back to the room he started pointing to her kitchen and pink guitar etc...and I simply stated oh so boys don't play guitar or cook food. Of course he said yes we do and then I said well then I think these toys are for boys and girls. Needless to say he was playing all night with her when I left the room. We have to teach our children that although we may look different on the outisde we are all the same on the inside. Girls and boys can do the same things.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristi
ReplyDeleteYou used great examples of microaggressions. We must learn how to prevent microaggressions and be more sensitive to people who are different from us.
Hi Kristi, I understand completely about the southern sppech. I too have been ridiculed about my speech, not because I was speeking incorrect grammar but because it sounds funny to people up North. People do assume that southerners are dumb and it is the most frustrating thing to me. I wish that people would stop passsing judgement on others.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristi, great post. It is interesting what we teach children when it comes to the selection of toys and the gender differences. As educators, we have to be prepared to dispel the myths and stereotypes that exist.
ReplyDelete