PRACTICING AWARENESS OF MICROAGGRESSIONS

        One example of microaggression that I have experienced was once in a department store, the sales woman looked at me as if I did not belong and she took a long time to address and acknowledge me. This form of microaggression made me feel welcomed, and invisible. Also, it made me want to leave the establishment, but, I know that ignorance is bliss and I refused to let this one woman ruin my shopping experience!

     My experience of discrimination has made me have a deeper understanding of the root of prejudices and had made me more aware of my own personal biases attitudes, perceptions and feelings. I really enjoyed taking the test “Test Yourself for Hidden Biases/ Teaching Tolerance” it was an eye opener!

References

Teaching Tolerance. (n.d.). Test yourself for hidden bias. Retrieved May 25, 2011, from http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias

PERPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY AND CULTURE

 

    For this blog assignment I asked three different people what their definition of culture and diversity means to them …I asked:

  1. 21 year old Man

  2.  Mexican American woman

  3.  A woman with physical disabilities

     The man’s response to culture was “culture is your family, your ethnic background” he said that diversity is “being different from others”

  The Mexican American woman said that culture “is her family, her way of life and the way they dress, the food they eat and the music that they listen to”. In reference to diversity she spoke about, the different races within the world, and how everyone is diverse.

     The person with physical disabilities is a woman, who uses a wheel chair due to being injured in a car accident. She said that culture “is my ethnic makeup, my family beliefs, morals and values; It’s a way that different people live their lives” she said that diversity is being different, she spoke of her disability as being a part of diversity, just as different races and people of different sexual orientations are different.

     Some aspects of culture and diversity was offered to me from all three individuals in terms of what I have been studying in this course, they all spoke of being different, that their culture is their family, ethnic makeup, beliefs, values and morals, the way they live, the music, the food and clothing that they wear. Some examples that I didn’t hear were religious views, age, socioeconomic status, and social class to name a few. As I reflect on these answers that were shared with me, it makes me further believe that culture is individualized as well; it’s belonging to sub cultures within a culture. Everyone has their own beliefs of what culture and diversity is and that there is no right or wrong answers.

    

   

When I think of Research....

   Some insights that I have gained from taking this course are; research is like doing detective work. Whatever issues, trends, or controversies that exist are extensively studied to uncover answers to questions that are unknown or perhaps misunderstood. When I think about conducting research I now know that the participants are major as so is this topic or issue that is being researched. When planning research the design that is chosen is also important, the how, who, when and where the research is being conducted is key, also how data and information is collected is a part of the research design. I didn’t really encounter any challenges, not at least from my participant; I did have some challenges with figuring out how to design my research and understanding the new terminology. Some of my perceptions of early childhood have been modified as a result of this course, by opening my understanding of why and how research is important in this field. Research helps us as educators to learn about family dynamics and issues that affect particular groups or individuals and that respect and equity are a part of the effort. I would like to say I thank everyone for their support, ideas, and suggestions through this research journey. Best wishes to everyone!

Research Around The World

  I chose the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to read and think about international research, specifically involving fathers in early childhood in the Nigeria culture. Some of the international research topics are of this study is to investigate the current roles of fathers and explore ways to increase the involvement of fathers and other and other males in childcare.

     Some insights that I learned from exploring his international site, is that within most Nigerian cultures care taking of the children is viewed as a woman’s job. UNICEF (1995) “cited several studies that confirmed that both male and female children need the presence and interaction of both parents. In the same vein, Western-based literature indicates that when fathers participate in child upbringing, everyone benefits. This has also been shown to be true in Nigeria, but it is not well documented. Most of the cases available come from families that have been influenced by urbanization”.

     I think that this is a great study, because still today there seems to e a double standard when it comes to childcare and mother and father’s  men/fathers perceived roles. Even in the United States there are men who feel it is a woman’s job/duty to take care of small children. I think it is admirable that Nigeria views this very important social issue and is taking a stance to educate their men, because children benefit from equal care and partnership of both parents.

References

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Hua%20-%20MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf