Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggression is when someone makes a comment or assumption about someone based on their race, gender, class, etc.

I have witnessed microaggression several times in my life. I have experienced microaggression a lot of times when I call people on the phone. During this past school year I received a new student late in the year. I called his mother to express some concerns I had about his grades from the other school. The next day the mother came to the school to talk to me. When she came she couldn't remember who called her house so she told the office staff a white woman had called her. They assumed it was the speech therapist who is white. When she spoke to the speech therapist, she found out that it was not her that called her. The parent could not speak to me at the time, because I was in a meeting. The parent then came back the next day. When she walked in my room the next morning she said "Girl, I thought you was a white women when you called me."

This is an example of microaggression because she felt that as a black woman I was not suppose to speak proper English. I did not feel bad about it because this is a problem I have dealt with before. People have told me that I sound white. I really don't understand this because in my family we are encouraged to speak with proper English and not slang. I also feel that as a teacher I should speak proper English.  I realize that everyone has microaggressions. I know that when a person exhibits a microaggression they don't mean to be offensive. Educating people to know when they are exhibiting microaggressions is the first step in stopping them.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For EDUC 6164 I was told to ask three friends or family members what their definition of diversity and culture are. I asked my father, Uncle Eric, and Aunt Jackie.

Father:  Culture- The language, music, up bring, and work of a particular people.

              Diversity- the differences within people

Uncle Eric: Culture- deals with the way a person is brought up and what they learn

        Diversity- not having the same background

Aunt Jackie: Culture- an individual way of doing things, religion

     Diversity- different ways that races do things

After talking to my family and friends I realized that everyone feels that culture is the way a person is raised. No one really got into details about the specifics. Through the Lacerate Education videos in class I learned that race, ethnicity, language, religion, ability, class, parenting pattern, and life style also play an important part in one’s culture.  I know they understand what culture is because in order to define it they had to give examples as it related to them and what their culture is. They did the same with diversity.  I don’t think that anyone included class as a part of culture. People don’t remember that your social class plays a part in how you are raised.   Listening to my family’s definition of culture made me realize that I was lucky to be raised in such an environment where culture and diversity is recognized and respected. Being accepting of who people are is an important aspect of the culture in which I was raised.

References

Laureate Education Inc. (2011) “Family Cultures: Dynamic Interactions” (Video Webcast). Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5364616&Survey=1&47=8004829&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

My Family Culture

If there was a catastrophe in my home country and My family and I were forced to relocate I would be devastated. Then I find out that I could only take three items with me. The first item that I would choose would be my patchwork quilt. This quilt is very special to me. My grandmother hand made this quilt. She put pieces of clothing and things that meant something to someone in our family. The second item I would take would be a baby bassinet crib. This bassinet has been handed down for generations. My husband slept in this bassinet and so did our son. The third item I would bring is my language. My father's family is from "Cajun country." They know how to speak Cajun french. I feel that even though we'd be going to another country this would be important to carry with us.
I want others in this new country to understand that staying together with my family is one of the most important things. All of these items mean so much to me because I want to feel close to where I came from and what I know.
Unfortunately when we arrive in the new country I am told that I can only keep one of the items that I brought. I know I would keep my quilt. I think that it means the most. The quilt holds pieces of different family members and represents who we are. I can also keep my language. The new country could not take that from me. I will be able to teach my children and they can teach their children.
After doing this exercise I realized that all parts of my family are important to who I am. When I was thinking of things to take I couldn't just look at my mother's side or my father's side or even just my side of the family. I know that I am made up of so many more things then I originally thought and it makes me happy.

When I think of research.....

Before I started EDCU 6163 I knew very little about research. I realized that it takes many steps to plan an effective research study. While planning my research simulation I kept hitting dead ends. I questioned myself at every step. Research is not easy at all. Whatever you plan do in a research study has to be approved and if is wrong you have to fix it. I tip my hat to those who do research for a living. It takes countless hours reading, looking, and conducting your study. Some challenges that I kept running into was wording. I was having a hard time wording things in the way that I wanted to say them so that others could understand what I meant. To fix this challenge I talked to others that I let read over my papers. I found that if I could explain to them what was going on in my head then they could help me figure out how to word correctly. Another challenge I had when doing research was understanding. I continually became confused with the terminology of research. To understand the terminology I found myself googling words. Sometimes it took me looking at three or four definitions to finally get a word. As an early childhood professional I now see the importance of research. Research is done in such a way that it benefits the children. I know see that when we are told to try a new way of teaching because research has proven it works. I think after going through this course I will take the time to listen to the research and give it a chance, because I now know what it takes to go through the process.

Research Around the World- Week 5

What are some of the current international research topics?

In Africa there are a lot of motherless children due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 22.5 million people are living with HIV in the region - around two thirds of the global total. In 2009 around 1.3 million people died from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.8 million people became infected with HIV. Since the beginning of the epidemic 14.8 million children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.” (Standley,E., 2009) A majority of the research topics center around the motherless children. People are trying to find out how these children are being cared for in orphanages. Research is also being conducted to find better curriculum in childcare. The country wants to find better ways to support families through education about AIDS no matter if it is a single parent, grandparent, or two parent house hold.

What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

I found after exploring this sight that the people in the Sub-Saharan Africa have many of the same problems that we here in America have. They have to deal with orphaned children. They want to improve their educational system. Educating parents is a big part of what they are trying to do. People all over the world are dealing with these same issues.

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

I found that people are coming to same conclusion about childcare all over the world. “The relationship between employment and support to working families for better childcare can no longer be ignored. As we become more aware of human rights there is a need to appreciate and respect humanity by recognizing what goes into nurturing a ‘whole’ human being right from the start that will contribute to national development. The cost of child rearing should be given due priority in all sectors. There is a need for multisectoral collaboration in supporting families to ensure that young children get optimum care from their parents and other competent persons as their parents contribute towards national development through employment outside the home.” (Nankunda , H. C., 2004) Yet, we still have our governmental leaders turning a blind eye to the facts about early childhood.

Resources

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), (2005) Final Major Projects and Theses. Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

Standley, E., (2009) HIV & AIDS in Africa. Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-africa.htm

Nankunda , H. C., (2004) Policies and Programs in Support of Childcare for Working Families: A Case Study of Data Sets and Current Activities in Uganda. Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Nankunda%20-MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

Option 2:
Imagine that you possess the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or their families. What topic would you choose? What can you imagine the positive contribution(s) would be?

If I could conduct research on any topic in the early childhood field  I want to look how a child's ability to interact socially plays on their future job. The study will show parents the importance of disciplining their children and teaching them respect for others. I think this study will make people want to raise more socially conscious children. The reason this is so interesting to me is because I recently found out that a janitor at our school was one of those children who disrespected teachers and would not follow directions in school. I wonder if it was because of her behavior as a child.

Research Journey

As part of my Building  Research Competencies class we were asked to come up with a a possible research simulation that I could do. The research simulation question I came up with was to determine how parents choose the type of childcare they put their children in. I choose to break it down further by looking at if state funded child care assistance was not available would so many children be in childcare centers. I know that child care assistance is a vital component when parents are thinking about child care. Sorry to say that many families probably wouldn't be able to afford to send their children to daycare.

I have learned after starting this research process that research does take a long time. You are not just looking at what you know or think but what information is out there. You have to be able to support your findings with other people's work. I found that you have to take your time and look around. Making sure a source is credible can take up some of your time. You don't want to quote people who are not creditable because then it makes your work look bad.