Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I've experienced disability microaggression being targeted at nearly daily. One of examples: people often asked me if I could drive, write, read, and so forth. It is often degrading because they determined that being deaf equals to being vegetable. This kind of response from others are irritating.

Another example: I applied for a job position called Job Coach. This position entailed duties including working with deaf and hard of hearing clients that required fluent in American Sign Language. I got an interview. When I arrived at the site, the interviewer said the company would not hire me. The reason they would not hire me was targeting at my hearing ability. In their perspective, lack of hearing ability means I could not manage the job responsibilities.

Beside being a target of a disability microaggression, I found myself targeting others based on racial microaggression even though it was not my intention at all. At a gas station, I pumped my vehicle while watching three young Latino males walking from their odd looking vehicle to the store. Based on their appearance, I immediately felt unsafe.  Although I did not have direct contact with these gentlemen, I caught myself reacting in such a manner.

Thankfully, the course for this week focused on microaggression. I learned a great deal about it for I have never heard of microaggression until now. This has helped me clarify what behaviors I'm displaying toward others. I realized that it may be difficult to compose my behavior responsiveness toward others at times. It will take some discipline to refocus my attention on being just.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For this assignment, it was easy for me to find several people to answer the question of what they think of culture and diversity.  I have culturally diverse circles of friends.

Sharvedh (South American Indian) replied that he thought of culture and diversity as in how it defines through the beliefs and value of groups.

Ken (Italian-American) replied that he thought of culture and diversity as in the culture defines languages, customs, community, and values from each community. He questioned whether diversity defines the races.

Heather (American): her statement "The definition of culture is varied with how we are being raised by families from different places over the world, languages, society, the way we dress because some of us do dress differently due to our types of culture because other counties have different types/styles of how we dress such as over in England they wear fancy hats for special occasions or events while we as Americans don't wear those types of fancy hats for American types of occasions/events or in Africa, women wear types of jewelry such as earrings or too many of them on their faces/ears that are part of their culture like that. As for diversity definition has many different races, minorities such as Mexicans, Asians such as international people wherever they come from and some people do have some disabilities that are diversity as we have to deal with them as we face. Something does with different and uncommon."


There are shared perspectives of what culture and diversity defines in three persons' statements. The common grounds are: 1. groups or communities, 2. beliefs/values.  Their responses are along the lines to what I've studied this week on diversity and culture. It is clear that the definition of culture and diversity has became broad. There is no one word to describe culture and diversity. One thing I noticed that had been omitted is disability and ability. I believe that disability and ability is part of culture and diversity, because a group of people who share the same disability develop their own language, lifestyle, history, and so forth to overcome the obstacles they face daily.

My friends' comments did not have powerful influence on what I thought of culture and diversity. It showed me that we all think along the similar lines. We all just perceive it at different depth. Some of us are influenced by where and how we were raised; therefore, it lead us to think in certain ways about culture and diversity.

Believe it or not, all these three persons who replied to my question in regarding to culture and diversity are profoundly deaf. Yet, each comes from different culture background.

My Family Culture

If I was ever in a circumstance of being a refugee and was instructed to bring only three items with me. I would select a family album, an old family Bible, and a crochet blanket. A family album is filled with photographs of my family, myself, and older family members (grandparents, great grandparents).  An old family Bible was given to me when my parents divorced. It is white and 3 inches to four inches thick. It has my parents and grandparents' writings in it. Lastly, a crocheted blanket was made by my mother as a Christmas gift to me and my husband. Nothing beats a hand-made gift. It is about king size and has my favorite colors (maroon and dark blue).

A family album is something that I love having. Every picture tells a story. I could elaborate the story by looking at the pictures and walking the memory lane. My grandmother always did that when I was a child. She described the setting, the persons, and how much they loved me. I would do the same. It makes me feel connected to my family.

An old Bible has my father's last name engraved on it. My grandparents passed it down to my parents on their wedding day. Even though my parents divorced, my mother believed that I should have it based on the birth order (I am the oldest). One day I went through the Bible. I found an old photograph and a letter in it. I left it where I found it. It is kind of a treasure. Bible itself is about God and lessons that I learn to understand God and myself better. This would help me becoming a better person.

A crocheted blanket is important because it came from my mother's heart. She made it with her hands. It keeps me warm during the cold nights. Everyone in my family knows that I get cold easily just like my aunt. It's hereditary. I learned how to crochet from my mother.

If I was told to sacrifice two items, I would let blanket and Bible go with wretched feelings. It is a piece of who I am, but I know that I can find a blanket and Bible. Also, my blanket would keep someone else warm. The Bible would teach someone else. I carry verses in my heart and I will always find a Bible somewhere. Family album cannot be replaced, so that is something I would keep.

From this experience, I realized that I am sharing things that my parents and grandparents shared with me. Whatever I've learned and practiced are part of my whole being. If I ever was told to change to be like everyone else, I would defy with honest heart.