Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

One example of a microaggression which I detected this week was microassault to my mother when she was in the hospital at The University Medical Center in Jackson, MS for her interventional radiology (surgery). We were the first ones to arrive in the surgery waiting area and my mother was nauseated and asked the nurse could she give her some medicine for it. The nurse said hold and let me go check with the radiologist. Meantime, my mother was being frigged and was giving them trouble by wanting to sit up on the side of the bed in which they could not let her do because she had been medication. Well, this white lady kept saying you can not sit up on the side of the bed, but I can let you sit up in the bed. My mother kept telling her I feel nauseated and I want to sit up on the side of the bed. She came over and lifted her head up in the bed and then she left to take another patient back to surgery. By that time the nurse came back and gave my mother her medicine for being nausea. We were sitting in there for about an hour or two and I noticed that two or three people was being taken back for surgery and I was getting impatience. After my mother could not get comfortable, she asked the nurse can she help her to turn over in the bed and the nurse said I can not, but you can pull on me and my mother said why not and the nurse said cause she is pregnant. My mother said well I do not want to to be strain on you and hurt the baby. So, the nurse said I will get some help and by that time her other teammate showed up and she asked him to help. He helped my father to turn my mother over in the bed. Meantime, while they were trying get my mother situated in the bed, the white lady from earlier came in and the nurse said they trying to get her in bed and she was telling the white lady how my mother was acting up, but the white lady humped her shoulders as if she did not care, but she was unaware that I was watching them the whole time why they were discussing my mother and when she seen me look her in the face, she tried to play it off by winking her eye at the nurse as though she was playing. I know she was not playing and was very inconsiderate about what was going on with my mother. I think the white lady was being races towards my mother because she was giving them trouble, but she was not intentionally doing it on purpose. My mother was just nervous and scared about her procedure because she did not know what to expect. When I observed the microaggression, I was getting mad and irritated because she should have handle the situation in a more professional manner.

My observation experience this week affected my perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people. I see that all three of them still exist today. It taught me that people can discriminate or be prejudice towards you absolutely for no reason at all even if you are sick. It made me realize that a person's expression can portray to be different from what you thought original. Also, it can reveal who they truly are when it comes to them interacting with others. Since I been at this hospital I have come in contact with a many of rude and stereotype people who do not mind showing how they feel towards you even on their jobs. They are so unprofessional and do not really care.  

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

The first person was a female and my family member. Her response to culture and diversity. She state everything is culture such as beliefs, family, morals, values, and your environment/surroundings all the way down to the foods that we eat. She said that diversity is a broad topic, but it is different religions and beliefs systems. For example, Baptist, Buddhism, Catholic, Hinduism, and etc., all of them believe and practiced differently.

The second person was a male and an acquaintance. His response to culture and diversity. He stated that culture is based on your environment, what you learn/learned, and what you see/seen. He said that diversity is two words; di is a prefix meaning split or more than one and versity is harmony. A person is diverse and not contained or restricted to a specific ideological.

The third person was a female and my former instructor. Her response to culture and diversity. She stated that when she think of culture, she think of learned behavior and norms. She said that when she think of diversity, she think of multiculturalism. 

I know that some aspects of culture and diversity were included in the answers that I received. One person mentioned surface culture, but all three of them basically touched on deep culture. From the answers that were provided, I feel as though they are knowledgeable and understanding about culture and diversity. I noticed that each person provided different definitions of these words, but they were still connected to one another. I like the way the second person broke down diversity, and then explained it.

The aspects of things that we can't see have been omitted. For example, the oxygen that we breath everyday. 

Thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics because I understand that not everyone is alike and they don't think the same way either. I think that people's experiences is what brings us together so that we can help each other to learn. 

My Family Culture

The three items that I hold dear and that represent my family culture:

The three items I would choose that hold dear and represent my family culture would be a radio, my Bible, and my cellphone. I would use a radio to help me listen to music and the weather. Also, it can keep me updated with news on the country and the surrounding areas.

The second item I would choose to take would be my Bible because I must continue to practice our beliefs, morals, and values in God. I must have faith and trust in him that he will supply all my needs and wants. The Bible would be a source of spiritual nutrition. Therefore, the food from God's word will help me ti live his life day by day. Also, God's words will be essential for my spiritual growth.

My third item to take with me would be my cellphone. It will be my source of communication to get acquainted with new people in order to establish friendships. I would have photos of my family in my cellphone as memories. I could connect to WiFi to get internet access so that I can social network on sites such as Facebook, OoVoo, and Skype, playing games, and listening to music.

Upon arrival, if I was told that I could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items that I brought with me, then I would keep my Bible. The Bible will prove that my faith in God will not waver. It shows that he is very important in my life. I would be able to read his word and it provide me with encouraging and motivating scriptures that will help me through the day. Also, it will help me through my trials-and-tribulations of life. I will be willing to ministered his word to people and hopefully I can save sinners soul even if I save at least one.

I feel like this exercise made me realize that we never imagine a major catastrophic event and what special items we would take with us until it happens to other or someone close to us. Afterwards, we might prepare our family just in case it happens again. I feel as though we take events, life, situations, and things for granted. Most of us are selfish because we are beyond blessed compared to other countries.