Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

A microaggression from my past that I remember is an example of micro insult.  It happened while I was in college working on my bachelors.  I had a friend that was from China; one day her and I went out to lunch at a fairly known restaurant.  When they waitress came to take our order, we asked her about one of the specials on the menu.  She looked at my friend and said to her "Well it has rice so you should like it!"  This comment simply implied that because she was a Chinese that anything with rice would be acceptable.  We were so shocked and appalled by the remark that we got up and left.

This experience made me realize how rude and ignorant people can be.  To stereotype someone based on ethnicity is so rude.  This made me take a hard look and examine myself as to not to stereotype or discriminate anyone for any reason.  Prejudism and discrimination are so hurtful, but unfortunately I don't think some people realize they are doing it. 

Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

For this assignment, I asked three of my family members for their definition of culture and diversity.

Culture

Mom:  Way of life’s instilments’ on us from decades ago.  Reflection of who we are and what we have become accustomed to.

Brother:  One’s way of life’s upbringing in religion.  It also includes different foods and social beliefs.

Dad:  Culture is a person’s way of life.

Diversity:

Mom:   Our reaction when there is a change in our culture.  How we can implement a substitution.

Brother:  The explanation that different cultures explain how and why of what they believe in.

Dad:  Being turned from a normal.  Adapting to a different type of lifestyle.

From these answers I noticed that my mom and brother both view culture with terms of food and upbringing.  As mom puts it, it is who we are.  It seems to me that culture is an easier concept for individuals to define.

I noticed that no one really mentioned social norms or body languages in either definition.  Language was also not mentioned.   Both my mom and brother struggled with this definition. 

As we have learned in this course, culture and diversity is very complex.  I think that they are so closely related that people have a difficult time differentiating between them. From this assignment, and viewing my family’s own perspective on diversity and culture, it has helped me to understand why I think and feel the way I do.  My family seems to understand the two and with my upbringing I have been taught to appreciate the differences.  We have never been a family to exclude individuals based on race, gender or sexuality.  My brother and I have been raised to treat all individuals with respect and dignity.

My Family Culture

If I had to leave and live in another country where the culture is totally different from mine, and I could only bring 3 items, they would be:
1)  My Bible
2)  A family cookbook
3) Photo Album
The Bible represents who I am.  It guides me in my daily life and helps me conquer my fears.
The family cookbook has recipes from many relatives that have been past on.  Many of these recipes are my comfort foods.
A photo album, helps me remember relatives from long ago, my friends who are no longer with me in this new land, and it has many special photos of special occassions that I do not want to forget.

If upon arrival, I could only keep one item, it would be my Bible.  I need this to guide me and keep me going spiritually.  As a family, we could gather around and read passages and enlighten each other. 

When I first thought about what I would take, I had a difficult time. I had to really evaluate myself and choose what are the 3 most important things to me.