1994

                                                                               2000      

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week I made me think back to a conversation I had not long ago with my cousin. I have always been a little overweight but as I have gotten older and the health issues I have encountered over the past few years with having total knee replacement and foot surgery to repair bone spurs and torn ligaments I have gained more than I would like and in the conversation with my cousin I was complaining about how I am not losing as much as I have been trying to and she said “but you are still cute”! I know she did not mean any harm but she has made the statement before and I did not make anything of it but since I now know that was a  microaggresion, I will be mindful not to make that statement to anyone again because I have made a similar comment to a friend.

In this case discrimination, prejudice or stereotyping was not observed.

2012

 

                      Perspectives on Diversity & Culture  

 In this assignment I spoke first to a colleague who is a Hispanic female I asked her what was her definition of culture and diversity and her response that culture was her heritage of being raised in Mexico and of the traditions that she and her family shared and still do. She mentioned the making of clothing, rugs, blankets, and baskets that they used not only for the family but to sell in the market place. Her definition of diversity was getting along with other people of different races.

The second person I asked was my cousin, her definition of culture is the different family’s that reside in the world and how they live and what their beliefs are pertaining to their way of life and the values, traditions that are practiced and morals that the caregiver instills in the family and diversity to her is the differences of all ethnicities and how people are different and are treated according to their differences.

The third person I spoke to was a neighbor who is from Jamaica. He is an older gentleman who is very traditional and has remained true to his beliefs of his country. His definition of culture is the rich heritage that we all have and the traditions that come along with your family roots. His definition of diversity is how we treat others who are not of our own race.

What I have noticed is that in all of the answers everyone mentioned tradition in their responses .I have studied that tradition is a big part of everyone’s culture and how members of the family maintain traditions for the futu

re generations.

Family dynamics have been omitted. No one spoke of the make- up of their family whether they had both mother and father in the household or if they were from a single parent or even been raised by a  grandparent. Also what I noticed is that no one mentioned rituals that took place daily in their household and whether they ate meals as a family daily or separately, was their family a calm family or if they were disruptive.

Thinking about the responses from the participants, I have come to appreciate the fact that the traditions that were instilled and the rich heritage that was left by my grandfather is something that will be treasured and valued by my family and I hope that my children and grandchildren will continue after I am no longer here.

 

My Family Culture

In the event of a catastrophe and my family and I had to relocate to another country who's cukture is different from my own three things I would bring would be our Family's photos,family bible,quilt made by great grandmother. These items mean the world to me as both my grandparents on both sides and , my mother and father as well as a grandchild are all deceased.All I have of them are the pictures that I possess.The family bible hold the dates of special events, and births in our family of which could never be replaced.If after arriving in this other country and was told I may only keep one thing, I think it would be the photos because it would be visuals to share with future generations, I could get another bible, and we could make another quilt, but the pictures would be more important so that my children and grandchildren can see past generations.

What I have learned from this assignment is that as a parent I must start collecting more family items so that my children and grandchildren and their children will have a sense of family and their heritage.