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? 

This week, I was standing in line at a Starbucks and I overheard the following conversation between the employee and the customer, both females: 

Employee: "Did you want me to fill that up more?"

Customer: "No it's fine"

Employee: "OK, I just didn't want you you to think that I was trying to gyp you."

Later, while sitting at a table studying, at the same Starbucks, a young black man sat down at the table next to me.  I noticed that when the man sat down, the two female customers at the table on the other side of him leaned away from him and looked very uncomfortable.

What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

Both of these microaggressions surprised me and I felt rather shocked when it happened.  The main reason that it surprised me was because all of the women were young, probably in their early 20's.  Unfortunately, I was exposed to racism and gender bias from a very young age because of my grandfather and great-grandfather.  For this reason, I was not expecting them to be so young.

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

Before this week, I was not aware of microaggressions.  I have heard many racist and sexist comments in my life but I did not realize that we can unintentionally communicate hidden messages that "reflect a world view that is one of inferiority/superiority, inclusion/exclusion or in some sense reflect an oppressive belief" (Laureate Education, 2011).

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

My Family Culture

Imagine the following:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. 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.

The first item that I would choose to take with me would be my great-grandmothers ring.  My mother gave me this ring on my 18^th birthday.  This item is important to me because my mother, my grandmother, and my great-grandmother all wore it before me.  The second item that I would choose to take with me would be my box of family photographs.  I would choose these photographs because they represent my life and because it contains pictures of those that I have loved and lost over the years.  The third item that I would choose to take with me would be my box of Christmas ornaments.  My grandmother began a tradition with her first grandchild in which she would buy a Christmas ornament for each of her grandchildren.  Additionally, my mother also gave an ornament to me and my sister.  Each ornament has the year written on it and I can remember receiving most of them.  Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away suddenly several years ago but my mother continues the tradition to this day.  If, upon arrival, I was told that I could only keep one of these items, I would be devastated because they represent my family.  It would be very difficult to choose to give up any of these items but if I had to choose one item to keep, I would choose my box of photographs because they represent my entire family.

This assignment made me realize how important these particular items are to me.  It also made me realize how fortunate I am to have not experienced such a devastating event.  Finally, it made me realize how devastating this experience must be for refugees.