Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

The issues of performance because of old age or the inexperience because of young age are few of the main sources of microaggression in my workplace. Learning about microaggression this week has changed the way I think and the way I deal with people. I never thought that some remarks or comment I made every day may be offensive and hurtful to others even if it is not intentional. Knowing now the importance of one’s ability to stop it will change the way people treat each other at my workplace.  . Becoming aware of microaggression has changed me: I need to speak up and be heard, because silence will not reduce or eliminate microaggression in the future.  I will keep it my mind to never tolerate it by ignoring it.

Having to experience the humiliation when I was a child, being labeled as not as good as my siblings and being punished at school because I could not answer one question my teacher asked me to answer has affected my self-esteem and lost my self-confidence. I felt like I was there but I am invisible. Just Imagine going to school every day as a child being fearful of the environment which your parent thought should be a place which will provide safety and security to their child or children.

 I would say, I am very fortunate to have a family to go home and validates my importance in their lives. Though I felt invisible at school, I am so happy that I have a family who makes me forget about school and has supported me in everything I do. Learning from what I had gone through when I was little and how my parents and siblings had made me feel good about myself, I promised myself that I will be an advocate to those people who are experiencing discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping and be an enforcer in stopping those hate comments and unfair treatment.  

When I hear people make comments at my work place regarding teachers who are being discriminated because of their age ( too young or too old),the way they look and the way they are, I make it a point to tell the oppressors to stop It and make it known that nobody is better than anybody. I make sure that I set a good example and believe in them (Oppressors and oppressed) knowing they can do better and find a common ground for both of them to work together.  It does not mean they have to like each other but at least work together. I just continue to challenge them to do their job better and have fun at work.

 The effects of discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes on people could be damaging and could affect their self-confidence, ability and their aspirations. These stigmas have the potential to rob them their individuality and debilitate their attempts to break out of stereotypical roles (http://.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias).

Perspective on Diversity and Culture

When I talked to the Director of my center regarding her culture she defined it as foundation her living. It reflects the way she lives and how she is greatly influenced by it. She explained to me why she is the way she is. She said that she is 100% Japanese but she grew up here in Hawaii. She explained to me that her family still practices the traditional Japanese culture but there are some things that her generation have lost or has discontinued. An example of this is the way Japanese women should serve and be submissive to their husband. She told me, if I know the way she is, that is not going happen. The reason for this is her belief that we are equally as important as men and for this reason after nine years of living together, it caused her marriage to end.

As she grew older she said that she is also greatly influenced by the American culture, she started questioning some of her belief and traditions. In spite of her skepticism, she obeyed her parents desire to marry the same race as hers but after a time, she can no longer accept having collision with culture of her husband. They both grew up in the same culture but their beliefs as an individual person were different from each other. Though she told me that she lost some of her culture but do not regret it because that is what makes her who she is today. She also said that the most important thing is not forgetting were you come from and always go back to your roots because her decisions still lies on the foundation of her culture.  She believed that losing some of her culture was lost but also gained some benefit of acquiring other cultures especially the culture of America.  She continues to carry on her culture to her children, and let the environment and time takes course in the future. She believes that they will still keep the identity of being Japanese and at the same time embraced the culture that they are living in.

Based on my interview with friends, family members or relatives, most of them defined culture as the way we were raised based on our religion, ethnic groups our family traditions and behavior and beliefs. One of them mentioned that even if we were raised in one family or one ethnic group, she said that even if we were raised or brought up in the same group or family it does not necessarily means that we have the same perception of culture. She mentioned that outside factors outside of our homes influenced us also in the way we live our lives. Our culture defines who we are and how we live. Our lifetime unique experiences make us differ from each other.  Most of us tried to carry on the traditions and beliefs we have learned from our grandparents and our parents but factors outside of our family but some change such as;  in the economy and our environment affects the way we live, the way we were educated in school, and the way we perceived things changes our culture.

 Diversity is about difference but acceptance and embracing each other’s differences is what makes our lives interesting.

This week lessons have given a better understanding of how people live the way they live. It also gave me a better perspective and better relationship with the people I worked with. Interviewing my Director made me understand how she is and in return I was able expressed how I am and how both cultures influences us in the things we do. I am really glad that I have the opportunity to do it because I did not only have better relationship with her but both of us have learned to understand the our culture palys an important role in our lives and we get to see the deeper side of us.

 Our way of life was greatly influenced by our family but as we grow older and the more we were exposed to different environment and different people, our culture changes. Some are preserved and some we lose.  

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My Family Culture

In the event that there is a catastrophic event that has devastated my country and I need to evacuate and take refuge to a country that has different culture than mine I would take  these three items that represents my family culture: my birth certificate, family picture, and the Tagalog version of the Holy Bible. My birth certificate has all the information describing who I am and what race and country I belong. It is my identification. Another item I would bring with me is a family picture which was taken during my wedding day. It was taken in the house where I grew up. This item is very important to me because this the only picture I have that has all my family members on it. Lastly, I would bring the Tagalog version of a Holy Bible. The reason for choosing Tagalog version is to make it easier for me to understand because that is my primary language.  The Holy Bible represents my religion which is a very important part of our lives. I was raised as Catholic. I went to a Catholic school from Pre-K to College.  My religion is one of the foundations of my family; it bonds us together and kept our faith stronger especially in times of hardship and troubles.  My parents taught us the importance of believing in God and the power of prayer.

I would feel sad to let go of these items because these are the only thing that represents who I am as a person. Though it will break my heart to see it go, I will console myself in the fact that there are more important things in our lives than these items. Given the opportunity to keep one item with me, I would choose my family picture. My mother died battling breast cancer and my father is now battling Alzheimer’s disease. It is nice to go back and remember them when they were still well and living. All my siblings left my country for a greener pasture and all of us were now separated.  This photo is all I have left of my family. It has all my family members on it which are a reminder of the fond memories we have together and the closeness of my family ties.

Although in reality, I should have chosen my birth certificate because it has my whole identity on it. It is the proof that I exists. It has my name, my place of birth, my parents name, my race, nationality and religion. These are the superficial part of knowing who I am as a person.

Doing this exercise made me think on what is important in life. No matter how I weigh the importance of these items to me, I still end up deciding what is dear to my heart.  Again my culture of giving importance to family first has influenced how I decided which item to keep and what to let go. Most of the time, we make our decisions base on our emotions or feelings but in reality, we have to be practical and reasonable to what is important in the real world. On the other hand, we cannot be all superficial in looking at things because we have to consider some factors that influence a person to do things and understand why they do these things.