Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I did not hear any microaggressions out in public this week. I think the reason for that is I did not go out in public much. I went to work but I did not hear my co-workers and parents make any comments that pertained to microaggressions. Other then work I ran to the store just to pick up a few things but did not hear or pay attention to what anyone was saying because I was in and out with in 10 minutes. Life of a graduate student is not being able to go out during the week and sometimes even on weekends, at least that is my life. I was able to hear microaggressions on the TV shows that I watched. 

The first microaggression that I heard was: "Wow would of never thought Jesús sister would be such a math wiz." That was from the TV show The Fosters. An ex-girl friend of Jesús was talking to Jesús sister. Jesús is not the smartest in the TV show. Though I do not know what kinds of ism that comment it would be it is a microaggressions. The ex-girlfriend is comparing the siblings, basically saying that she was shock that one of them is smart, though she did not mean it in that content but it could have been perceived in that content. Another comment I heard on TV is "You and your people are always smart". That comment was made on the TV show Golden Girls. Which I believe the producers had it Sophia say that comment because it fits her character. It is who she is. The comment was directed to a Chinese doctor. 
I did not feel anything really with the first example I gave for microaggression. I felt like I was more excited that I was able to pick up that it could be a microagression. When given this assignment I did not think I would hear any and was scared on what to write in my blog. To be honest when I heard the second example I laughed. You would have to know Sophia on what it was funny. You would also have to see her daughters face when she said that. Her daughter was very embarrassed that her mom said that and also that her mom kept talking about how his people are always so smart. Though in real life it would not be funny it was meant to be funny in this show. 
My experience with this assignment truly brought a light in my eyes that microaggression happens everywhere. We all as a society just choose not to listen. I will not try to become more aware of what I say to people. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For this assignment I asked my mother, my sister and my husband to share their definitions. 

My Mother:

Culture-"The influences that affect my life (family background, place where I live, things happening in the world around me)"(Dine, 2015).

"Diversity is a collection of people or things that are different from each other (for example: a multi-age group of people, a gathering of people of different religious beliefs, a group of people of different nationalities) working toward a common goal"(Dine, 2015).

My Sister:

"Culture is a concept that societies construct to define their collective sense of identity, making them feel as if their group is distinct from other groups"(Dine, 2015).

"Diversity is the breaking up of homogeneity through harmoniously combining people or things that differ in significant ways"(Dine, 2015).

My Husband:

"My definition of culture is the different ways people live their lives. This could be the type of foods they eat, the clothing they wear, the beliefs they have, the language they speak, etc. The wonderful thing about America is that it is mixed with many different people that are from all different cultures"(LaBonville, 2015).

"My definition of Diversity is people of different cultures (ethnic backgrounds), age, race, religion, gender, etc. If it wasn't for diversity, the world would be a pretty boring place because everyone would be the same"(LaBonville, 2015).

Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples?

I have studied that in this course that culture is more then just the food we eat or what we wear. It is much more then that. Culture is everything about us. My sister definition said it is how they define a sense of identity. That bought me back to week one when we learn about our identities. 

My mother and husband had a good definition of diversity. My mother stated that it was more then just race, that it is also religion, etc. My husband stated the same thing that everyone is different and all diverse. 

Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?

I feel they covered the definitions very well. They are not studying culture and diversity so they would not know every aspect of culture and diversity. Some things they omitted was in the deep culture. They omitted work, role of children and migration. 

In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

Reading other definition bought me back to when I did not know much about culture and diversity. I knew what it meant but did not know about the deep meaning of them. Looking at their definitions showed me that I am growing and learning. 

My Family Culture

If I had to go take refugee in a different country and could only take three small items I would take my wedding ring, my families recipe book, and my family photo book.

The reason I would take my wedding ring is because it a a great symbol of my life. It means a lot to me and I always need to have it on my finger. I would explain to them that a wedding ring is a symbol of love. I would let them know that it was given to me by my husband on the day we became one.

The reason I would take my families recipe book is because some of the recipes go back to my grandparents some are recipes just from my mother. All those recipes are special and make very good food. If they were to ask me what the book was I would tell them that is has very good food that my family makes.

The reason I would take my family photo book is because it has many pictures of my family. I created it a year ago. It has picture of my grandparents, my aunts and uncles when they were young, my aunts and uncles presently and then my cousins and their children. I made it so I would have all pictures in one spot.

It would be a tough decision but I would keep my wedding ring. The reason I would keep this is because of what it is. A wedding ring is not just a piece of jewelry it is so much more. Plus if it did come a time where I need money I could always sell it. I would have a very hard time to selling it. 

I had a hard time deciding what I would bring. I do not have a lot of it from my family. My mom has it all and when the time comes she will be passing it down to me or my siblings. I do a few items that are from my great great grandparents but it is furniture nothing small. As a result of this exercise I realized that I do not know much about my family background and items that mean something.