Microaggression

            I recently had an experience with microaggression in the workplace.  My colleague, Lisa, is an openly gay woman, who has never hid her lifestyle from anyone at work.  My work place has 101 employees, 4 of which are men.  One of the men I work with, Bob, walked up to a group of woman including Lisa and greeted us by saying, “Ladies…Lisa”.  In my mind two things happened, first of all Bob gave Lisa a microinsult on two levels.  He insinuated that Lisa was not a lady, and should be greeted separately.  That microinsult made me feel that Bob marginalized Lisa in a very demeaning way.  He greeted her separately almost as if he believes that gay people should be on the fringe of society, not a part of the dominate culture.

            I never asked Lisa about this incident, but I have been thinking about it long before this lesson on microaggression.  I have a brother who is gay, so I am sensitive to stupid remarks from heterosexuals to homosexuals. 

Culture and Diversity

I asked my father who is 83 what is culture.  He told me culture is where you are from, your background.  I asked him what diversity was, and he told me it was people of different raes and cultures living, going to school, and working together.

I asked my friend who is a different race and religion than I am the same questions. She told me culture is your heritage, the way you are raised, and the traditions that are passed down. She felt that diversity was like America used to be.  A melting pot of races, cultures and religions.

Finally I asked my sister what is culture is and she told me it is people with  a common belief system, sort of like religion, who all come from the same place and share the same experiences.  Diversity, according to my sister is people of all different cultures living together. 

These answers are included in the definition of culture and diversity that I am learning in my class.  But the point their answers missed is that culture is all inclusive.  It is not of the past, but of the present and the future.  Culture encompasses the entire being of a person. 

Learning how other people view this topic has increased my awareness of culture and diversity. 

Three Items

If I were forced to leave my home and go somewhere new with only three items that represent my culture, that would be very difficult. 

First, I would take a cross to represent my Catholic faith.  I would just take a plain wooden cross, one that I would not have to worry about breaking.  One that would represent the burden I am bearing in a new land. I hope it would give me strength to persevere. 

Second, I would take my Nook.  I have a strong belief in education.  Having all of my books in one place would be a saving grace.  I would be able to read to find comfort, and I would have my children read as well. 

The last item I would take is a pot my grandparents passed down to my parents, and eventually down to me.  It represents many home cooked meals.  It represents comfort and love.  It represents all that is family to me. 

If I were only allowed to keep one of these items, as much as it would pain me to choose, I would have to keep the Nook.  I can face anything as long as I can read.  Keeping the Nook would allow my family to read about their history and to continue the traditions long handed down.  It would be important to me for my family to be able to read their history, I believe it would make a difference to their future.