An example of microaggression that I
experienced was when a parent who is a psychologist and from
California came to pick up his daughter. It had been an especially
trying day and the children were just not in synch with me. The
father walked in the door sat down tiredly and watched the children
as I tried to get them in order. I turned to the father and
apologized. I told him that I was a little intimidated because he was
a child psychologist and I merely worked in a school age room. He
stood up and said he make 270.00 dollars and hour to examine or
diagnose a situation. I told him I make seven.
When the father used how much income
he made in order to shut down any proceeding conversation we were
about to embark I felt powerless. I didn't feel it was worth his time
for him to ask me a question about what was exactly going on in room
but to give me the message that he simply wanted to go home.
I can honestly say that this week has
really opened my eyes with stereotypes and prejudice. I was surprised
that there was just such an underlying nastiness in the way people
talked to one another to gain power in a situation. Yesterday in work
when a woman was put in charge to close down our building and tried
to undermine what I said to the children as a way to embarrass me and
empower herself I felt a sense of “bitchiness” when I
retaliated. I feel guilt when I am in this situation and I am forced
to regain power by speaking up for myself.
1 comment:
Jen,
I think it is awful that some “knuckle head” announces what he makes an hour. (Personally, if he makes that much surely he can afford to send his child elsewhere.) You are right; it is not worth your time or effort to be combative with a parent because it just doesn’t pay. I know the feeling of people deciding that they need power to be productive. Recently, I have encountered the same types of situations with people wanting to be “RECOGNIZED.” This week’s readings have definitely taught me that about microaggressions and the way people behave toward others. We can take from this week’s lessons, there are three forms of microaggressions and we do not have to sir come to any of it because we have knowledge which gives us power to redirect our efforts.
Yolonda Honore’
Houma, LA
Resource (2nd – 6th grades)
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