Ideology
Gender Roles.
If a child displays characteristics that cross the lines of what we have known previously to be stereotypical gender roles, what does that mean today? Does it have to mean they are questioning their gender or can it just mean they have different aspects of their personality that happen to be something we have put into an ideological box? I present this question because I have noticed a shift in how we approach children and I wonder the thoughts of others on it. I have a friend who identifies as a heterosexual girl and she always used to wear “boys” clothes, play basketball, hung out with the boys, and lost her MIND if anyone tried to put mascara on her or got close to her with dresses. If she were in our classrooms today, would we not question/wonder if she were questioning her gender? How are we approaching students now that is different from how we approached them previously? What are the repercussions and benefits of that?
Microaggressions
When it comes to microaggressions, I 100% agree they exist. I just don’t 100% agree on all of the examples. In the video she said “you sound so articulate.” I would not think that to be a microaggression in and of itself and because that’s an example, it makes me cautious to give a compliment because I don’t want to offend or come off a certain way. Now, I can NOT speak to if that comment FEELS like a microaggression to an individual because I have not walked in their shoes. It is just more clear to me to be considered a microaggression if stated like this: “you sound so articulate for a (insert culture/race and so forth).” On the other hand, I know that touching a person’s hair is inappropriate no matter how innocent it is meant to be, it shouldn’t be done. Discussions like this help me to consider aspects of my behavior that I wouldn’t have thought anything about before. It helps me to consider others before “plowing” ahead with my words and actions. And I say plowing because even if something is meant innocently or well meaning, I imagine it to feel to the person on the other end like a blunt force action.
Institutional Oppression
Overwhelms my soul because I feel like I have no control over it. With the first two topics I have a sense of “I can do something about this by how I behave and respond” and so forth, but with institutional Oppression, I can feel and think all I want, but I don’t see how I can help. I know that I can in ways but it seems more “out of my hands” or “out of reach” in a sense. I have a lot of HOW? WHY? WHAT MORE can be done? WHO do I talk to? WHERE do I go?.....
Internalized
I’ve always been interested in going beyond learning about WHAT these things are and HOW I approach them or make a difference. I hope to discover that in this class. To make a drastic comparison, sitting in diversity talks always feels to me like going to the doctor and hearing “You have cancer. The end. You can go now.” I’m literally left sitting on the the table with TONS of questions including if I should get a second opinion based on the “doctor’s bedside manner”. Don’t me hanging! What am I to do next?
Megan, I thought you did a really nice job breaking down the main points from the video. I would like to say that I was thinking exactly the same thing about the micro-aggressions. It is important to distinguish how a comment may feel to someone vs if it actually was said in a way that was a micro-aggression. I think you explored that aspect very respectfully as it is important to look at all perspectives.
ReplyDeleteMegan, I enjoyed reading your thoughtful, honest post. Like yourself, the readings raised lots of interesting questions for me and I made lots of reflections. I totally related to your reactions to institutional oppression. Alexia shared a fascinating video where teenager's shared their experiences with racism and their thoughts on interracial marriage and like I always do when I hear those things I felt powerless. Again, thank you for sharing your insights and perspective.
ReplyDeleteHi Megan! As a former tom-boy (who now loves dresses) I am also curious to know if my childhood interests would lead to discussions about sexuality had I been born today. I am a strong believer that liking pink doesn't make you a girl. And that liking blue doesn't make you a boy. But these innocent opinions get equated with sexuality by parents, consumers and society. Like your friend, I had no interest in society's view of femininity but still grew up to be a happy heterosexual woman. I think that society making allowances for difference and diversity will naturally lead to fewer stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteHi Megan, I may not have felt like the comment on articulation was meant to offend her either, but I suppose it could easily be taken that way. I realize that maybe I need to be more recognizant of what I say, like you said unless you walk in someone else's shoes you don't know how they feel.
ReplyDeleteDid you know there are three different types of microaggression? Microinsults, microassaults, and microinvalidations. Often when someone is called out on this behavior, they get defensive, but it is important to speak up and be clear about how you feel about, let them know what was said and how it made you feel uncomfortable. It is important to stop this behavior and put in end toward discrimination.
Your reflection on microaggressions highlights the importance of navigating these subtle forms of discrimination with sensitivity and awareness. While some instances, like complimenting articulateness, may seem harmless, it's crucial to consider their potential impact and underlying implications. Your willingness to engage in discussions about microaggressions demonstrates a commitment to understanding their effects and fostering inclusivity. By approaching interactions with mindfulness and empathy, we can work towards creating environments where everyone feels respected and valued, free from the negative effects of microaggressions. Reading Dan's blog post (https://dgordonfned502.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-four-is-of-oppression.html) has me thinking about ableism and how microaggressions towards someone with disabilities may be even more difficult to detect. Instances where language or behavior reinforces able-bodied norms or perpetuates stereotypes about disabilities, like using derogatory terms like "crazy" or "lame" to describe situations or people, or assuming someone with a disability needs constant assistance or cannot contribute meaningfully.
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