Practicing Awareness

I have been reminiscent this week in my interactions over the past few years and a couple of microaggressions have become apparent to me. Several months ago I and a colleague were discussing various languages. I was shocked to hear that she was born in Okinawa, Japan.  I was shocked because I had presumed she was born in the United States. She is African American and speaks English affluently. Although I didn’t verbalize this presumption, I had thought this microassault. 

This morning in a staff meeting we were being assigned child care programs who have contacted our agency for assistance in applying for Ohio’s quality rating system. When one program was mentioned, Me maw’s, a colleague said, “She must be from the south. You know people in the south use that term frequently.” I was astonished to quickly realize that these types of statements, or microassaults, have been said around our office in various contexts over time. 

My studies and reflections this week have rendered a new awareness in myself and others. I am saddened that these microaggressions are thrown around so freely and without intention. I am reminded of Dr. Sue’s mention of the psychological dilemmas regarding microaggressions, “Unintentional invisible nature of microaggressions” (Laureate, 2011). In a field as widespread and community-based as early childhood, we must work to stamp out the use of these microaggressions to break down barriers and cultivate relationships.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in every day life. Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1340816_1%26url%3D