multiculturalworldawareness-blog

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Word of the day...Reflection

As the semester comes to a close we have to reflect on the concepts that we take away from the different topics we have discussed over the past 5 months. We have talked about racism, colorblindness, individual vs collectivistic cultures etc. There is so much that we’ve have learned that its hard to reflect on just one thing that has impacted my life. If I can think of just one thing that really has impacted me is how to start dialogs about uncomfortable topics, and having the research to back up the claims that I'm making. If there is someone that disagrees with my viewpoint, I now have the tools to engage whomever it is with a fact base response rather than an emotional one. Because its easy to react to someone emotionally, but more than likely you will get them on the defensive and the won't really hear the information that you’re trying to share with them. Another thing is racism is very present in everyday life, it’s NOT a thing of the past. People of color are getting beaten, killed, harassed, and accused of crimes they didn’t commit because of the color of their skin. And this has to stop, we need to start listening to their voices and experiences. Opening up spaces for them to exsist without feeling like they are unwanted and their life experiences aren’t valid. Change starts now, our younger generations need to be taught that words aren’t just words and you have to be cognizant of what you say and whom you say it to. Because even though what you say might not apply to you or how you identify, it could be impacting those around you and making them feel more “outcast”. Everyone needs to feel safe, and have a safe platform to express their thoughts and feelings. I mean after all this is the United States of America. How about we “Make America Great Again” by lessening the hate speak and ridicule and listening to those who have been hurt and harmed by our current practice and work together to make changes for the better.

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The Anti-Victoria’s Secret fashion show

A video came across buzzfeed that showed women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, ability status, and ablism walking the runway. This was to promote body positivity and show young women that they are beautiful no matter what. Looking back on the many subjects we talked about in class there was a piece on visibility and making sure that everyone’s voice and thoughts were highlighted. In a multicultural world there is going to be all shapes and sizes, sexual orientations, ability and disability statuses. And we should be able to see past what is on the outside of a person to who they truly are. And celebrate their differences, no matter what they are. We cant take a colorblind approach to life anymore because that is not realistic to the many different people we encounter in a day or a life time. We cant go through the world with blinders on, nor should we idolize unrealistic body types. If we are truly going to teach our young women and young men about the world and how people are different then we need to start seeing people that look like everyday folks. That just because your not a size 2 doesn’t mean that you are not worth the love and kindness of another human being. Seeing this fashion show and the real true bodies of these women helped me get past my own self consciousness of not subscribing to what society deems as “beautiful” There are more campaigns that have “plus size” women loving their bodies for how they are. Lane Bryant for one has the “IAMNOANGEL” campaign that have women with stretch marks, fuller figures, and a little extra around the waist and loving each and every curve. Lets start celebrating differences instead of trying to fit in the unrealistic boxes society is continuing to perpetuate. Change starts with you, don’t you think its time???

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Coco

Last Sunday I took my son to see Coco, which is a movie about Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead which is very big in Latin culture. The movie taught you a lot about hispanic culture and how they are a very close knit group. One would all them very collectivistic, all of your actions reflect on the family not yourself. Miguel,  wanted to see his grandfather so he sets out to find him. But what he finds is the heart of his family and seeing all this long lost relatives on the other side. At first Miguel wasn't proud to work in the family business of making shoes. What he wanted was to be a singer like his great grandfather, but since his grandfather left his grandmother for music, his grandmother now bands any type of music. Miguel finds himself and the true meaning of his family, the people and support group that will stick by him through think and thin. If we have learned anything in this class is that minority groups tend to stick together and offer the people in their community support. Same goes with Miguel and his family business, as well as finding his ancestors that have passed on.  It was a really sweet movie that taught you about family and the importance of having a support group and people that always have your back whether it be good or bad. Most minority groups also tend to cohabitate where many generations of the family all live under one roof. Which to most people would seem very claustrophobic and out of the ordinary. To a minority group it is more common to see 2-3 generations living in the same house. Most minority groups cherish their elders and make sure they are well taken care of. This often reminds me of my childhood. Where my grandparents, mom and aunt all lived under the same roof. There was alway someone there play with me, help me do my homework etc. People from these types of communities dont see anything wrong with bringing their parent into their home so they are taken care of and looked after.  Whereas an individualistic culture would be one were only the married couple lives, or the parents, the children and grandchildren all live in their own places respectively. In an individualistic culture its easy for them to put their parents in a nursing home than to take care of them. It would also play into the edic of autonomy approach, each having their own agency to do and come as they please without having to answer to anyone but themselves. Whereas minority groups are more of a edic of community where everyone works together for a common goal. 

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Autistic Boy Microphone Snatched at Nutter Fort Primary School

I was on Facebook and saw this video of what appears to be a Kindergarten class doing a Thanksgiving play for the parents. When it was over there were there kids in line. A little girl and boy dressed as a pilgrims, they thanked the parent in the audience for coming to see their play. Then walks up this little boy with his hands up to his mouth and you see the teacher hurriedly grab the microphone before the little boy was able to speak. You hear a comment of the person filming the play say “Why would she do that?” the little boy has a bit of a meltdown and starts crying. What we didn’t know is the little boy was autistic and he wanted to thank the parents for coming as his fellow classmates had done, but the teacher wouldn't let him speak.  From the articles that I have read this isn’t the first time this teacher has reacted to this student in such a hurtful and discriminatory way. Though this child had a disability I dont think it was right that she let the other “normal” students speak but wouldn't let the other student speak. You would think that this teacher would have some compassion or training with special needs children but it would appear that she doesn’t. Her own bias plays a very impactful role in this Childs attitudes about the world he lives in. The mother was outraged that this authority figure would act in the manner she did. Though we are not supposed to base our opinions on people based on race, color, sexual preference, ability status or disability this teacher did just that. People with disabilies whether it be physical or mental already feel like they don’t have a place in the world. But making a child feel like his voice shouldn’t be heard is heartbreaking. What impact will this have on him and his future interactions? There should be some sort of sensitivity training done so something like this doesn’t happen again. Children with disabilities shouldn’t feel like they don’t have spaces where they can grow, learn, and be a successful part of society. Because their voices shouldn't be silenced because they may be a little different then someone else. If we’re truly going to live in a multicultural world then we need to celebrate ALL voices not just those that are able bodied, or non disabled.

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Women in Saudi Arabia still can't do these things

I was surfing the internet when I came across this story about Saudi Arabian women finally getting the right to drive a car. Which at first struck me as odd because doesn’t everyone drive? But then I had to think of the culture and how it is very much different than in the United States. For example women in Saudi Arabia just got the right to vote in 2015, are not able to attend college, and go to the Olympics. Things that in a Western culture we take for granted, we have been able to vote for MANY years, can attend higher education if we chose and don’t have to seek approval from a male guardian in order to participate in most activities we do on a daily basis. Though there were some things in the article that I struggled with, not being able to eat in a restaurants without a “family” section, that men and women can’t commingle, they cant get a passport or ID card without a male guardian. They have zero value placed on the lives of women to the point they cant marry without approval, have custody of they children after they get divorced or inherit anything from their fathers. I understand that ALL countries don’t operate like America does, but the fact women need a male guardian just to exist in a world and be normalized. My question is are Saudi women happy with the restraints that they live under? Do they aspire to have some kind of autonomy from men? Or are they happy being communal property of men that are supposed to know what’s in their best interest? They have to wear this black full body loose garment called an abaya. Seems like women have to be modest in order to not attract the wrong attention or male gaze. Are “we” nothing but sexual objects to please men? I am a very autonomous person that has agency over my own body, mind, thoughts and have a space where I can express myself without ridicule. I don’t have to rely on a male member of my family to vouch for me in order to get a loan, travel, get married or divorced. But thats where our bias and judgment comes from, we are looking at it from our viewpoint and not theirs. These women could be happy living the way they do and place a lot of trust in faith in the males in their lives to look out for them and protect them. Maybe this is the way men protect the women in the community is by having them relay on them to make sure they are safe and not getting taken advantage of. 

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“I Am Psyched”

This was an event hosted by Westminster College to encourage young women of color that they can aspire to be psychologist. It’s important for minority girls to see people that look like them in the science fields. The highly represented group is White, CIS gendered men. This event brought in young women of color around the Salt Lake valley and the exhibit displayed African-American or mixed raced ethnic women that were psychologist. I attended this event and was shocked that there were so many women of color that were successful psychologist. Most of them I had never heard of, but it was interesting to read their stories about how they were the pioneers of different practices that we use today.  Which made me think about the Social Justice and Mental Health class I took a year ago by a woman of color named  Dr. Denise Frances-Montoya. It was interesting how she would bring race, ethnicity, and more importantly how women are not highly represented in the sciences or in psychology. We had discussions about different marginalized groups of people that don’t seek mental health services because there is no one that LOOKS like them. Because White people like to downplay or minimize the experiences of minority people. They don’t understand the struggles or experiences people of color have and how stigmatizing it is to admit you have a mental health issue. And trying to explain your experience to someone that has a very limited point of reference is draining on top of dealing with on mental health issues. Showing these young ladies that they have a place in psychology and there is welcome diversity. And there is more inclusion than exclusion. Some of the minority students that are psychology majors were docents for these groups that came to visit the campus. Giving them more representation that there are women not much older than them that are earning degrees in psychology and its something that’s attainable. 

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“Where White People Meet”

Driving down the highway in Utah you see many signs advertising cars, homes, food, etc. What you don’t usually see is a billboard advertising a site called “wherewhitepeoplemeet.com” with the stereotypical white couple embracing. The statistics in the article that this was pulled from state that Utah is made up of 88% white people. Those that aren't part of the majority were taken aback by this billboard that has not been taken down. A few of the women that were interviewed stated that it upset them whereas others didn't see a problem with the site at all. Those that posted on the KSTU Facebook page glossed over it stating there were sites for Blacks, Latinos, Farmers, Christians, Mormans etc. And whats the big deal if white people want to date other white people? I would  say there is a lot wrong with that, in my opinion its another form of racism. This might just be a bias way of thinking but. it would appear that whites might be of the midget that “if other ethnic groups can have their own websites catering to those groups why cant white people?” I drive around a lot and I dont think I’ve seen billboard about black, latino or other ethnic sites. There was one interview from the YouTube video that struck me, it was a minority woman that seemed very upset that other people didn’t see anything wrong with the site. And its another way White people can exclude minorities from their spaces. Yes the website has in very small print that anyone can join, but why would a minority want to put themselves out there when they are already NOT wanted. We have discussed in class that when we talk about racism its always in the past. That we have come so far and we love each other as equals. In reality there is still racism going on, overtly and covertly. Black women have a harder time than any other minority when it comes to dating. Because of the stereotypes that “we” are aggressive, loud, unapproachable or HIGHLY sexualized. As a minority this site has an unspoken tone of “you’re not welcome here” and to “stay in your place” wherever that place is. If we are all supposed to “get along” how are we supposed to do that with sites out here promoting racism and making white supremacy ok? 

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Backlash from Uber

http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/25/technology/business/uber-girls-who-code-donation-backlash/index.html

In this article its discuss that Uber is getting backlash from choosing to go with women who write code. This is a typical gender issue we discussed in class only mere hours before. In a male dominated field of computers and technology where is a woman’s place? Surely not with men writing code, I mean really what could women POSSIBLY know about computers and writing code? After reading this article, women know quite a bit. And on top of every other stereotype that can be thrown out, its also a woman of color leading this campaign. We want to see change in the world but how much and we really expect? For every step we take in the right direction there will be someone saying that women or even people of color are not equipped to handle the job. Furthermore for the steps woman take to advance themselves in STEM fields men will also work harder to “keep up” so there will never be a margin where women actually gain ground. 

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Why is it so hard to let our kids fail?

In a collectivistic society if a child fails its bring shame to the family. 

Collectivistic groups work for the good of everyone not just themselves. We 

have touched on this several time within class as I've also learned about this 

same construct in other psychology classes. Parents want the best for their 

children and to see them fail is a reflection of how they are being raised and the 

values children have.  Also failure can give children social issues in the future if 

they perceive themselves as not being good at a task or subject. They often will 

give up before even trying to accomplish anything out of their comfort zone, 

and thus label themselves as failures. Which can lead to a many different issues 

in the future, such as rebellion, depression and acting out. Not to say that 

individualistic cultures don't see failure as a problem, but in this type of society 

its how one learns i.e trail and error. Its not so much of a reflection of the 

parents shortcomings but ones of the children. Its hard to let children fail 

because no one wants to see their children upset or feel othered if they are not 

successful in life.

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There is no question that one of the most difficult things about being a parent is letting our children stumble, fail, make mistakes.