Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions


Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

“We have been socialized into a society in which there exist individual, institutional, and societal racism” (Education.Inc., 2011, p. 3).
An exchange between my 5 year old granddaughter and a family member as we rode in the car. “Where did you get those glasses? asked my granddaughter. Family member responds, I bought them at the Korean store”.
My reply is “Is that the name of the store?” The owners of the store are Asian, hence the references to Korea. I am sure no disrespect was intended, but this is an example of how normal it is to refer to people according to their race. These are messages we learn as we from family, everyday interactions and observations of the world around us.
The family member immediately restates the reply and tells my granddaughter, “I bought them at the Style Mart.” This exchange was minor and it wasn’t. Allowing the comment to go unchallenged would have indicated my approval of the microinsult. Children record everything they see and hear, to be replayed later.  Since racism is a learned behavior, I want to do all I can to help my family, children and those I work with learn to respect differences and not use them to ostracize others..
Children growing up in today’s world are taught that all people are created equal, but they often learn that some groups are more valued than others. This practice is one that educators can help end, this can be accomplish by ensuring all children receive equal representation in their daily learning experiences.


In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people?

Using a person’s or a group of people’s race or ethnicity to describe their business or any other attribute is a form of racism. These statements infer a difference about person or group that sets them apart from the rest of society. These statements have been radicalized by the targeted group not only by whites, but by the racialized peoples to one another (Margles, 2010).
The use of derogatory language toward people of different races is so commonplace, that most of the time it is not addressed and most do not even know it is offensive. It is important to learn about and address the dominant stereotypes of immigrants in general and specific immigrant
groups in particular (Ngo, 2008).
Putting an end to any form of microaggressions requires us to take a stand and speak up when these injustices occur.
References
Education.Inc., L. (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/Walden/EDUC/6164/04/downloads/WAL_EDUC6164_04_A_EN.pdf
Margles, S. M. (2010, May). Inverting racism' s distortions. Our Schools/OurSelves 19(3), 137-149. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=0ed3b9f4-5a60-41db-8580-9a6df6c952fa%40sessionmgr112&vid=3&hid=124
Ngo, B. (2008). Beyond ‘‘culture clash’’understadings of immigrants experiences. Theory Into Practice, 47, 4–11.


Comments

Oh to be a child again.... said…
Thank you for sharing. I am definitely more in tune with my surrounding and the words people use after this week’s readings. I was blown away with the numerous examples I observed this week. I was also shocked by how many comments I did not even realize could be considered as a microaggression. Again your example was another example of how we categorize and communicate on a daily basis without awareness of the words we use. I believe I will continue to realize different ways and forms microaggressions are used weekly due to the significant variety of microaggressions.
February 2, 2014 at 4:27 PM
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