One of the microagression's I have personally experience is the being a minority. Even though I am a white woman, I was seen as a minority at my high school because my high school consisted of blacks and hispanics. I can understand how Alejandro feels about being a minority because when I was in high school I was a minority myself. At most times I felt left out because there was nobody of my same race attending school. It was also hard for me to apply for scholarships because most scholarships were for hispanics and blacks only.
One incident I remember clearly when I was in high school was that I was told I could not apply for the Summer Bridge Program because of my race. The program was offered to high school students who came from minority families and also would be the first generation to attend college. I really felt bad because I had wanted to get into this program because I felt it would have better prepared me for college. I was the first generation to attend college in my family, but because I was not black or Hispanic I was not eligible. It had really hurt my feelings because I felt like I was being discriminated against. I also felt that it was unfair to discriminate because I was an excellent student who was taking Advanced Placement courses in preparation for college. I had wanted to attend college to make a better life for myself. I feel if I had been in this program I might have attend college earlier in my life and might have a career by now.
The ways that my experience has affected my perception of the effects of discrimination,prejudice and/or stereotypes is that people should never be judged by the outside, but rather what they have on the inside. This weeks scenarios have taught me to always choose my words carefully so I do not offend anyone. From personal experience I know what it feels like to be discriminated against and I can tell you it hurts. I also learned that it is important to teach my children and also the children in my future classrooms to like everybody and to always be nice to each other. I need to show them how to not judge people and accept them for who they are instead of trying to change them.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Perspectives on Diversity and Culture
I had the pleasure of interviewing my two aunts and a friend of mine who is from the country of India. I had learned a lot from these three great women and want to share with you their view points as well as my view points.
The first person I interviewed is Eileen.When I had asked her to define culture she had defined it as language, arts, thoughts, spirituality, social activities and Interaction with other people. All these words put together are needed in order to define culture. One needs lanuguage to express themselves, one needs arts in order to appreciate what is around them, one needs to be able to think about issues and how they affect them, one needs spiritaul guidance and religion to help get through rough times, we need social activities and to interact with other people so we can learn from them and be able to communicate with others. She had defined diversity as being accepted for who you are and to respect others for who they are and not change your values and beliefs just to please others. On the same note, it is not acceptable to change other people's beliefs and values so they can be the same as you.
The second person I interviewed is Carolynn. She had defined culture as it defines who we are and what we believe in. Culture is defined in language, arts, thoughts, religion, and interaction with other people. She had discussed how the school she works at teaches diversity. As a pre-school teacher we teach the three and four year olds the importance of liking everybody and not to judge people for what they have on the outside, but rather what they have inside of them. A person's inner beauty is more important. We teach the kids how to learn from other cultures while still appreciating who they are. It is acceptable to be different because everyone is special in their own way and that there is only one you.
The third person I interviewed was Varuni. She is of Indian descent (the country). In our culture religion and family play a big role in our lives and the importace of family history is also important. The older generations pass down their knowledge and wisdom to the future generations. We have respect for our elderly and for family. My definition of diversity is that we are learn from each other and we all have history to share. We are all unique in our own way, but we still seek advice from each other. I was born and raised in the United States and have been taught my native language of Kannada as well as English. I also celebrate my religious holidays as well as the American holidays. I feel that by celebrating my religious holidays as well as American holidays it has taught me about repecting and appreciating both countries.
The aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied that are included in the answers I have received are: religion, language, interactions with others and politics. It is very important to know who you are and what your beliefs are. Lanugage helps us communicate our thoughts, ideas and our points of view. If one did not have communication skills it would be hard to stand up for what we believe in our hearts is true and to be able to share our thoughts with others. Religion (Spirituality) is also important because we learn things through our religion and our spiritual leader is the one who guides us in our lives. If we did not have religion I feel that we would not have the proper guidance in our life nor would we have an afterlife. For diversity I feel that all three people I interviewed believe that we are all different in our own way and that it is acceptable to be different because we are all special in our own way. This world would be boring if we all felt the same way about issues, had everything in common and if we all had the same religious beliefs. We all need a little variety in our lives.
No aspects were omitted in any of the definitions. Everyone defined the words similar and had also added a few of their experiences.
The way that the others way definitions of culture and diversity had influenced my decision is that language, spirituality (religion) and social interactions with others are all equally important. I had always believed that language and spirituality are important, but before asking these three great women about their views on culture and diversity I never thought about the importance of interacting with other people who have different interests than you do. I guess it is great to have friends who have different interests than you do because you can learn from them.
The first person I interviewed is Eileen.When I had asked her to define culture she had defined it as language, arts, thoughts, spirituality, social activities and Interaction with other people. All these words put together are needed in order to define culture. One needs lanuguage to express themselves, one needs arts in order to appreciate what is around them, one needs to be able to think about issues and how they affect them, one needs spiritaul guidance and religion to help get through rough times, we need social activities and to interact with other people so we can learn from them and be able to communicate with others. She had defined diversity as being accepted for who you are and to respect others for who they are and not change your values and beliefs just to please others. On the same note, it is not acceptable to change other people's beliefs and values so they can be the same as you.
The second person I interviewed is Carolynn. She had defined culture as it defines who we are and what we believe in. Culture is defined in language, arts, thoughts, religion, and interaction with other people. She had discussed how the school she works at teaches diversity. As a pre-school teacher we teach the three and four year olds the importance of liking everybody and not to judge people for what they have on the outside, but rather what they have inside of them. A person's inner beauty is more important. We teach the kids how to learn from other cultures while still appreciating who they are. It is acceptable to be different because everyone is special in their own way and that there is only one you.
The third person I interviewed was Varuni. She is of Indian descent (the country). In our culture religion and family play a big role in our lives and the importace of family history is also important. The older generations pass down their knowledge and wisdom to the future generations. We have respect for our elderly and for family. My definition of diversity is that we are learn from each other and we all have history to share. We are all unique in our own way, but we still seek advice from each other. I was born and raised in the United States and have been taught my native language of Kannada as well as English. I also celebrate my religious holidays as well as the American holidays. I feel that by celebrating my religious holidays as well as American holidays it has taught me about repecting and appreciating both countries.
The aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied that are included in the answers I have received are: religion, language, interactions with others and politics. It is very important to know who you are and what your beliefs are. Lanugage helps us communicate our thoughts, ideas and our points of view. If one did not have communication skills it would be hard to stand up for what we believe in our hearts is true and to be able to share our thoughts with others. Religion (Spirituality) is also important because we learn things through our religion and our spiritual leader is the one who guides us in our lives. If we did not have religion I feel that we would not have the proper guidance in our life nor would we have an afterlife. For diversity I feel that all three people I interviewed believe that we are all different in our own way and that it is acceptable to be different because we are all special in our own way. This world would be boring if we all felt the same way about issues, had everything in common and if we all had the same religious beliefs. We all need a little variety in our lives.
No aspects were omitted in any of the definitions. Everyone defined the words similar and had also added a few of their experiences.
The way that the others way definitions of culture and diversity had influenced my decision is that language, spirituality (religion) and social interactions with others are all equally important. I had always believed that language and spirituality are important, but before asking these three great women about their views on culture and diversity I never thought about the importance of interacting with other people who have different interests than you do. I guess it is great to have friends who have different interests than you do because you can learn from them.
Friday, July 8, 2011
My Family Culture
The three items I have chosen to take with me:
1. My family recipes cookbook
2. My wedding Photo Album
3. My cats
The way that I would explain to others about the importance of my family recipe cookbook, my wedding photo album and my cats is that all these items have significant meaning to me. All of these items are a part of who I am and what I stand for. I am a family oriented person who always puts family first and myself last. I believe in the saying, "As long as you have family, you are rich". My family recipes cookbook is important to me because my family had worked hard on putting the book together as a Bridal Shower gift. My family wanted me to have a book with great meals that I can make for my husband and later on for my family. I will eventually pass this book onto my own daughter someday when I have children of my own. The way I would explain the importance of my wedding photo album is that my wedding day was one the happiest days of my life and I am so grateful that I had found a wonderful man to spend the rest of my life with. I am glad that I got to share this day with my family and friends. The way I would explain the importanceof my cats is that my cats are members of the family and I treat them like my children.
If I was told that I could only keep on of the three items I had selected I would be heart broken. It would be very hard for me to decide on which item to bring because all three items have a lot of meaning to me. I could never give up my family recipes cookbook, my wedding photo album or my cats. Giving up these items would make me feel like these items never existed and I would hate to lose any of these precious memories. When my husband's family gave me some recipes it made me realize for the first time in my life that I was a part of his family and I was welcomed with open arms. I really love my husand, he is my love, my life and my best friend and if I had to give up my wedding album I would feel as if I lost my best friend and that my wedding day did not exist. I could not give up my cats because it would me feel like giving away my children and I could never give away my children. I love my cats.
The insights I have gained about myself is that I am family oriented and that there are many people who play important roles in my life and if these people were not in my life I would be lost. My husband is my rock and my best friend. He is the one I share everything with and want to continue sharing with. My family stands behind me and has taught me the importance of love and unity.
1. My family recipes cookbook
2. My wedding Photo Album
3. My cats
The way that I would explain to others about the importance of my family recipe cookbook, my wedding photo album and my cats is that all these items have significant meaning to me. All of these items are a part of who I am and what I stand for. I am a family oriented person who always puts family first and myself last. I believe in the saying, "As long as you have family, you are rich". My family recipes cookbook is important to me because my family had worked hard on putting the book together as a Bridal Shower gift. My family wanted me to have a book with great meals that I can make for my husband and later on for my family. I will eventually pass this book onto my own daughter someday when I have children of my own. The way I would explain the importance of my wedding photo album is that my wedding day was one the happiest days of my life and I am so grateful that I had found a wonderful man to spend the rest of my life with. I am glad that I got to share this day with my family and friends. The way I would explain the importanceof my cats is that my cats are members of the family and I treat them like my children.
If I was told that I could only keep on of the three items I had selected I would be heart broken. It would be very hard for me to decide on which item to bring because all three items have a lot of meaning to me. I could never give up my family recipes cookbook, my wedding photo album or my cats. Giving up these items would make me feel like these items never existed and I would hate to lose any of these precious memories. When my husband's family gave me some recipes it made me realize for the first time in my life that I was a part of his family and I was welcomed with open arms. I really love my husand, he is my love, my life and my best friend and if I had to give up my wedding album I would feel as if I lost my best friend and that my wedding day did not exist. I could not give up my cats because it would me feel like giving away my children and I could never give away my children. I love my cats.
The insights I have gained about myself is that I am family oriented and that there are many people who play important roles in my life and if these people were not in my life I would be lost. My husband is my rock and my best friend. He is the one I share everything with and want to continue sharing with. My family stands behind me and has taught me the importance of love and unity.
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