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.

When I Think of Research...

1. What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?
The insights that I have gained about research throughout this course is to make sure that your information and resources is credible, reliable, and valid. It will most definitely help you in the long run when it comes to all the steps of the research process and actually writing a research report/project. In the beginning of the research, I was not familiar with many of the terms and the analysis and designs(quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods). Now, I am more knowledgeable thanks to this course and Dr. Dartt.

2. In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?
My ideas have changed about the nature of doing research because I found out that it can be complicated, confusing, and frustrating. Research is a process that is very time consuming and takes a bunch of patience.

3. What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?
I learned that all three of them are important in early childhood. The planning is the foundation that will lead to the designing and conducting of the research in which you will be studying as a researcher.


4. What were some of the challenges you encountered-and in what ways did you meet them?
One of my challenges that I encountered was when it came to the quantitative and qualitative designs and analysis. I was so confused, lost, and frustrated to where I developed a headache. I met this challenge by calling Dr. Dartt and she explained how both of the designs is used in research. She provided me with examples and scenarios to help me understand better. Even after learning about the research process, I still do not like the quantitative design because it seems like it has more work than the qualitative design. Another challenge that I encountered was the vocabulary. In order to meet this challenge, I kept flipping back and forth from the definition in the chapter to the glossary and then I would sit there and meditate on it for a while. I had to reread the text a numerous of times before I decided to research on the internet to see what others have written.

5. What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?
My perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course because participants may be harmed as a result of their involvement. Secondly, professional relationships and knowledge base may be damaged. Finally, problems for the community or society may be a result.

To My Colleagues:
Thank you all for the support in which was provided to me throughout this course. Thanks for sharing your ideas, opinions, and the resources which will help me in the near future. I wish the best for you all on this academic journey and life. 

Research Around the World

The link that I chose for this week's blog is Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php http://www.ecduv.org/ssa/major_reports.php

What are some of the current international research topics?
There were 25 final major projects and 2 theses. Some of the current international research topics are Building Community Leadership for Quality Sustainability in Madrasa Preschools: The Case of Madrasa Preschools Post Graduation Support; Coordinating the Development and Implementation of the 2003-2013 National Action Plan (NAP) for Children in Malawi; Utilizing Indigenous Stories in the Promotion of Early Childhood Development Programs in Uganda; Strengthening the Capacity of Grandparents in Providing Care to Children Less than 8 Years Old Affected by HIV/AIDS; Development of a Model Framework for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in their Early Years in Ghana; and Developing an ECCD Teacher Training Curriculum in Lesotho as Part of a College Education Program.

What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?
The surprising facts that I gained from exploring this website is when the Early Childhood Development Virtual University Internal Evaluation Report stated that the ECDVU programme is striking for its high retention and completion rates: 90% of learners completed the programme and obtained Masters and Bachelors degrees (27 of 30 learners completed, of which 22 were Masters students and 5 Bachelors). The insights I gained from this website is Building Capacity Through: promoting Regional ECD Networks, supporting In-Country Development, utilizing Computer Technology, identifying Indigenous knowledge, stimulating Local Solutions, accessing International Expertise, and delivering Meaningful Training. The new ideas I gained from this website is that the ECDVU is an innovative internationally recognized program operating within the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria. While based locally, ECDVU network and its impact are global.

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?
I noticed on the links for School of Child & Youth, at University of Victoria, it took me to both of their homepages and there were more information available. I really enjoyed browsing this website because overall it was easy to comprehend the information.

Research that Benefits Children and Families-Uplifting Stories

Option 1:

I would like to share with my colleagues a published research article concerning children or families that I came across called New Study On Homosexual Parents Tops All Previous Research. The link to the website is : www.frc.org/issuebrief/new-study-on-homosexual-parents-tops-all-previous-research. I find this article interesting because the question that was asked is Do children who are raised by homosexual parents or caregivers suffer for disadvantages in comparison to children raised by a married mother and father? This question is essential to political and ethical debates over adoption, foster care, and artificial reproductive technology, and it is highly relevant to the raging debate over same-sex "marriage." The argument that "children" need a mom and a dad" is central to the defense of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In conclusion, the article by Marks and Regnerous have completely changed the playing field for debates about homosexual parents, "gay families," and same sex "marriage." The myths that children of homosexual parents are "no different" from other children and suffer "no harm" from being raised by homosexual parents have been shattered forever.

I chose this topic because there has been so much controversial about children raised by their married mother and father. I feel like there is nothing wrong with homosexual parents rearing children, but at a age where the children can understand the concept of homosexuality. I feel like people should not be held accountable for who they are or what they choose to become. Just because parents are married does not mean that the children will be reared better. Homosexual parents can teach the children about living in your true identity and not hiding it, whereas married parents will more than likely criticized the child/children for being homosexual and asking the question why. The above research study clarified the misconceptions and myths about children being reared by homosexual parents. I will continue to believe that everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves.   

My Personal Research Journey

My Chosen Topic:
I have chosen the topic special needs children with a disability, but my subtopic would be ways in which parent(s) can distinguish when the caregiver(s) or other people has abused or neglected the child will be the focus of my simulations in the coming weeks.

As you all already know from the previous paragraph that the chosen topic for the simulation is special needs children with a disability. The reason why I chose it is because my heart goes out to these children and their families when it comes to abusing and neglecting an innocent child who did not ask to come into this world. It can have effect on the family as well because not all the time the parent(s) or caregiver(s) are aware of what is really happen to the child/children because they might be caught up with working and trying to provide the best they can with the economy being slow.

My personal experience with this simulation process is that I have been around single parents who are having a hard time rearing their child with special needs and who has a disability due to the fact their health/medical care for all the surgeries that they through are too expensive.

The insight that I have gained so far from constructing the research chart, and from any other element of this course is that my definition of a word might mean different, but can be used in many ways. Also, it has improved and expanded my vocabulary so that now when these words are used I want be looking dumb-found.

To all my colleagues if you all have any advice or insight that might help me with this process and/or with this course, please feel free to share resources if you can with me and I will do the same as well. Thank you all in advance!