Practicing Awareness of Micro-aggressions
I am so excited about the new knowledge that I have
gained from this week’s course resources, I am particularly intrigued about Micro-aggression. Dr Sue (Laureate Ed., 2011) stated that “Micro- aggressions are
brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental”. Even
though they may be unintentionally communicated they can cause harm if the
message contained within is insulting. Knowing empowers you to own your
experiences, before this class I would not have even paid attention to the
awkwardness of these events but now that I have a name for it I am wiser.
Yesterday I had a meeting with a minister and
afterwards I had to get somewhere else which I told him. He asked where I was
going to drive to get there, so I told him and immediately he went into
redirecting me to another route. I tried nicely to tell him that I am
comfortable with where I chose to drive but he insisted that his way is better
and he stated his reasons. I agree that it may have been a shorter route but I
do not like the highways which I told him but he laughed and said that was
nothing. Right away he invalidated what was meaningful to me and disregarded my
decision and concern to convince me that his idea was better.
When I realized that I was the target of a micro
aggression, I was getting impatient and frustrated at first, I wanted to say
something that was also micro aggressive back at him. However, I do not think
that it was intentional on his part. Dr Sue (Laureate Ed., 2011) states that
“invalidations happen day in and day out outside the level of awareness of the
well-intentioned individual”. My friend likes to think that he has authority on
most subjects and is the go-to person for solutions to everything. I took his
advice and it didn't make a difference in saving time but I like peace so I didn't say anything else to him.
I always try to be neighborly in my dealings with others.
In that I mean I try to treat everyone the way I would like to be treated. My
experiences this week opened my eyes even more to the fact that discrimination,
prejudice, and stereotypical behaviors are belittling and harmful to others.
References
Here are a few words from one of Bob Marley's songs "Get up stand up"(1979). I just thought it fitted well with this blog..what do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u7DL4M0Hh8
References
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Here are a few words from one of Bob Marley's songs "Get up stand up"(1979). I just thought it fitted well with this blog..what do you think?
"Get up stand up, stand up for your right,
Get up stand up, don’t give up the fight
We’re sick and tired of the isms schisms…
..you can fool some ppl some times
But you can’t fool all the ppl all of the time...."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u7DL4M0Hh8
Sherron,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you before this class I didn’t know what microaggressions were; now I am cautious not to use them myself. I was watching TV this week and the media is the biggest perpetrator of microaggressions; the media is where children learn about and how to use microaggressions. I have been teaching my preschool children about using nice words and always treating others the way you want to be treated. I explained to the children that sometimes people say things to you that you don’t like or they hurt your feelings, and it’s okay to tell people how you feel about how they made you feel. I had some great conversations with my children when talking to them about microaggressions of course I talked to them on a preschool level but they understood exactly what I talking about because unfortunately many of them have experienced microaggressions already in the young lives especially the immigrant and children of color.
That is awesome Danita, we must do more of that to bring awareness to children and families about how we make others feel when we say something nice or uncaring to them. It is unfortunate that children learn so much inappropriate lessons from television and other media. We must cease the opportunity to help our parents guide the children more in the programs they allow the children to watch. It is a good thing to watch with our children then we can have a guided conversation with them about content. Thanks Danita, have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteSharon, I am glad you shared this. I have ran into this microaggression as well with directions. After reading your post, I realized that finding a way to handle the microaggression in a neighborly way can be hard. I found that I use humor when it is outside my immediate family and I get angry when it is within my immediate family. I hope to find coping mechanisms that will be positive for everyone involved. This post has got me thinking about what to say in situations like this. Thanks, Tisha
ReplyDelete