Microaggression

         This week we have been learning about microagressions, most of the time unintended insults.  For this weeks blog assignment we need to be conscience of what was going on around us. My sister-in-law and I sell LuLaRoe. It is a newer direct sales clothing boutique that makes stylish but super comfortable clothes in sizes 2 T to 3 XL and the softest leggings you will ever wear (shameless plug:o)). We were at an event and a wife had stopped in to look at the clothes and fell in love with a shirt. She pulled it out a couple of times and talked about how she loved the colors. We talked for a bit and she walked to check out the next vendor booth. About 20 minutes later she comes back with her husband to show him the shirt she really liked. She was a heavier lady, He looked at her and then the shirt and said, "That shirt will never fit your arms." Her face fell. He looked clueless. He did not even realize his comment had hurt is wife. I felt so bad for her. She kinda nodded and walked away and he soon followed.

         This weeks observations has affected my perceptions of the effects of discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes on people. It showed me that we really need to think before we speak. That we unconsciously can really hurt a person with what we say. I think that the saying is true, that physical hurts can heal and go away over time but words always stay with us. We might not think we are prejudice, discriminate or perpetuate stereotypes but we are with the unconscious comments we all make sometimes.

Brandie

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I ask three people their definition of culture and diversity:

1.       Culture is a group of people who believe in and have the same values and ideals.

             Diversity is everyone’s different sets of values and beliefs.

2.      Culture is the language we speak, the food we eat, how we interact with others.

Diversity is everyone’s uniqueness. Things that make us different from one another.

3.      Culture is a person’s traditions, language we speak, religious beliefs. Culture is the things we share with others.

Diversity is a person’s gender, sexual orientation, religion, and beliefs. They are the things that make us different.

This assignment was fun, it was interesting to learn about different people’s definition of culture and diversity. There seemed to be a common theme in the definitions. Culture was things we had in common and diversity were things that were the same.  These definitions follow what we have been learning about culture and diversity these last couple of weeks.

This was a fun and interesting assignment. Learning about other people’s definition on culture and diversity made me think about my own definitions. Diversity is the things that make each of us unique. It is vital to accept and respect these differences. The languages we speak, the holidays we celebrate, how we dress, what we eat, all of these things and more go into diversity. Our cultures are the unspoken rules we live by that influence our daily lives without conscience thought, our beliefs, morals, and values.

Brandie

My Family Culture

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...

If a major catastrophe had almost completely devastated the infrastructure of the United States and me and my immediate family had to evacuate I would not be worried about taking anything with me, all I would need is my family. In my family, family is crucial. Things are just that things, they really don't mean anything. 

I would explain to others that within my family culture that our families are what is essential to us not things. It is vital to spend and celebrate life together, the little and the big moments. What I hope to pass down to my children is what my parents passed down to me,  that your family will always be there for you and they are important. That things are just things and there will be things in life that we value and treasure but nothing should be more important than family. 

An insight that I gained about my self and my family culture is that, I believe sadly, not all families feel this way. Many people joke that my family is intimidating at first. We are a loud, loving, crazy family. We fight but we always forgive. We celebrate the good and help pick up the pieces when it is bad. I realized with this assignment that who cares what I could bring or couldn't bring with me as long as my family was together. 

Brandie 

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