I recently overheard a conversation between two women and as I reflect on
what I learned this week, I realized I witness a microinsult. Woman A
complimented Woman B’s perfect Spanish and asked, where did you learn to speak
Spanish, your accent is perfect? Woman B
responded my family is from Honduras. Women A then responded but you are so
dark! The hidden message is Woman B’s skin complexion is too dark to have a Spanish heritage. Although at the time I was unaware
of the specific terminology, microaggression, I knew in my heart that comment
was wrong and discriminatory. I was offended by the comment and I did not
understand why Woman A, thought it was appropriate to make such a comment. As we have learned, she is unaware of her actions and the effects of her comment.
After learning about microaggression, I am more conscious of the things I
say, hear and see.
It is important to be aware if microaggressions to avoid unintentionally offending anyone. I am also
more motivated to research various cultures to avoid microinsults.
It is important to be aware if microaggressions to avoid unintentionally offending anyone. I am also
more motivated to research various cultures to avoid microinsults.
Hi Katara,
ReplyDeleteYou are right, it was an inappropriate thing to say and assume. I get a similar reaction because I have light skin but I speak spanish and my mother is Mexican. We do not realize how much society has programed us about culture and diversity so that is why it is important that we become informed so that we do not offend anyone out of ignorance.
Thank you for your example. So many of us see things like this occur and feel in our hearts that it is wrong or discriminating to others. Microagressive behavior occurs continuously around us or to us and we don’t know how to handle situations that occur. It is my strong belief that a course similar to this one is one that all high school and college students should have a requirement to take helping build a growth of understanding culture and diversity.
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