What memory do you
have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the
target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression?
It is unfortunate that I have heard many discriminatory and
prejudice remarks made against race or sexual orientation. I cannot recall any
specific moments when I have been the target of bias or prejudice although I
know I have heard numerous remarks regarding my gender. A coworker recently
revealed an incident when she went to meet a new family she was to work with
and the mother opened the door and told her she wouldn’t work with her because
they had nothing in common. The mother had merely looked at my coworker’s skin
color and decided from there that they were completely different based on my
coworker being a black woman.
In what way(s) did
the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish
equity?
This incident diminished equity because the mother would not
even speak with my coworker before she decided they were different and had
nothing in common. The mother failed to let my coworker share that she is also
a mother filled with experiences that anyone can learn from. This incident
demonstrated that the mother felt that my coworker was beneath her and did not
give her the fair chance to share any information with the mother.
What feelings did
this incident bring up for you?
Hearing about this incident, I was heartbroken that someone
I know to be a very caring and high-spirited person could be the target of such
unforgiving prejudice. I also feel sorry for the mother who misses out on the
experience of working with a well-educated woman with many experiences to learn
from.
What and/or who would
have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater
equity?
It is fairly clear that the person needing to change in this
incident is the mother closing the door on my coworker. Perhaps if my coworker
chose to try talking further with the mother she might have been able to change
her mind. However, I think the hurt my coworker felt had already broken the
potential for building a working relationship.
I think that people make such snap judgements based on their own experiences or what they were taught growing,it is really difficult for anyone to open up to new relationships this is also really sad because it only ignites hatred and ignorance
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jennifer. It makes me sad that we as humans treat each other with such ignorance and hurtful words. I agrre that these are traits that are learned and taught to us. I cnnot seeing this to be natural or a genetic way of learning.
ReplyDeleteThank for sharing.
It is so sad that we judge others by what color they are. We need to educate our children today that we are all equal.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that people still think like this. People would be shocked at how much they have in common with others if they just had a conversation. I believe this was also one of the suggestions made in a previous week on how to end and prevent microaggressions.
ReplyDeleteHi Terri,
ReplyDeleteI remember a similar incident when I was judged by the color of my skin at the beginning of my first year teaching. A parent aske the principal to move their child to a white teacher's room. My principal told her she would not adhere to her request because her child being in my classroom would be a great assest to her child's academic career.