Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 Every day in our society people are treated a certain way because of their race or gender. Actions can send messages of how people feel about people who they interact with.

 My sister took her car to this mechanic to repair what she thought was here wheel bearing. So she expressed this to the mechanic. The mechanic did not check to make sure that this was the problem he just replace the wheel bearing so on her way home her car was doing the same thing it was doing before come to find out it was not the wheel bearing but it was her breaks. She had to pay for two repairs. I think the mechanic did things this way because she is a female. I do not believe this would had taken place if a male had taken the car.

 

My daughters and I went groceries shopping because we were going to have a family cook-out. We had a grocery cart full of things we needed. When my daughter got to the checkout the cashier asked my daughter if she was paying with EBT my daughter stated “No with cash”.

 

My mother –in-law came to the hospital to see my youngest daughter in the nursery when she was born. To my understanding there were other people there to see other babies. When they brought my daughter to the window someone made the comment “This baby is so cute her daddy must be white, just look at her color and hair. My mother-in-law (a lady who do not hold her tongue) replied.  “This is my son’s baby, my granddaughter and both of her parents are black”.

 

These examples of microaggression made me and my family members feel humiliated, disrespected, and devalued. Reflecting on these incident has brought about my being more aware of my interactions and communication with people. In my professional role I will continue to work with a more diverse population therefore I must be mindful or the messages I communicate verbally and non-verbally.