Awareness of Microaggressions

      I have always had experiences with microaggressions throughout my lifetime, but never knew what that it had a title.  I just always felt that I was being made fun of or discriminated against.  I had not ever heard of the word microaggression until taking this course.  An example of microaggression that I remember vividly was a comment that was made by a co-worker of mine.  I recall a co-worker that was a Caucasian woman saying to me, “I hate my big ole’ butt. I have a butt like a black girl, like yours!”  I’m thinking to myself…”Ummm, I’m black.”  I do not feel she meant the statement in an offensive way, but it was offensive.  I said to her, “All races are blessed to have nice backsides, depending on the individual, not the color of their skin.”  I have always been very confident in myself and with my physical appearance.  I was indeed very shocked for my co-worker to make the comment that she made.  Once she read my facial expression, she said that she was not trying to be disrespectful.  I just continued to look at her and shake my head.  I have heard other individuals speak on women having "butts like black women".  I am still trying to understand the logic behind it all.  It is so unfair to be so stereotypical.  The crazy part is....  I have also heard black women say it about women of other races.  I have seen women of all races that have very nice physical physiques.  

            I do feel as if you do not have to be a minority to experience racial microaggression.  There are some racist minorities also that are prejudice against Caucasians.  Honestly, I feel sometimes that my own race is worst critic.  As sad as it sounds, it’s true from my own personal experiences.  Even today, there are parents that come to tour my school, both African American and Caucasian families, that will walk past me and go straight to my office manager.  We have a door bell and I usually answer the door.  Before I can even say, “How can I help you, they walk past me to ask my Caucasian office manager if she is the director or is her director here?  She will then point them back to my direction where I am still standing in the foyer with a smile on my face.  The comment is always that I look so young, but I know that is not the case.  I am about to be thirty nine years old next month and no one looks “that young!” 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I spoke with one of my best friends, one colleague, and an uncle that has been incarcerated for the last 22 years on their views of culture and diversity.  

My best friend is Caucasian, married to an African American man with two bi-racial children.  When asked about her definition of culture, her response was, "It's a way of life."  She went on to share with me how she and her husband had to adapt to each other's culture from food to discipline methods in regards to their children.  Her definition of diversity was, "MY OWN FAMILY!" She laughed and said "We are very diverse, meaning different." 

My colleague is from India, and has a difficult time understanding English if you speak to "fast".  Her definition of culture was, "My beliefs, my own life practices.  When I asked her about diversity, she said she really wasn't sure what I was saying.  I didn't want to frustrate her, she tells me all the time that she doesn't understand me all the time because I talk to fast!

My uncle has recently converted to Muslim since he has been studying books in prison.  I do not speak with him very often, but he happened to call collect last night, so I took advantage of his new belief as far as religion is concerned.  He even changed his birth name.  He actually told me that was part of what makes him diverse.  He feels as if culture is the way he was raised, morals that were instilled in him.  He said that even though he chose a different path in life, he will never forget where he came from and what my grandparents drilled into him to be a good man.  He said he wishes that he would have taken life and his upbringing more seriously and he may not have ended up spending his entire life in prison away from family.

The responses to the definition of culture are pretty comparable to the definitions from the media segment and readings in this course. I mostly agree with my best friend's definition being "a way of life".  

I think dominant culture was omitted and I do believe that my colleague from India is part of a dominant culture.  She consults with her husband for everything.  She does not drive or make decisions for herself.  She has to consult with him before she agrees on anything.  I have observed this behavior myself.

I would really like to revisit the definition of diversity with my colleague and help her understand the meaning because I feel it is important to know what diversity consists of.  I will even talk "slow" so she can understand me!

My Family Culture

If a major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of my country....I have been told that I have to relocate to another country and I am only able to take three small items with me that represent my family culture and that are dear to me ......

The three small items that I would take with me would be my son's baby book, a Ziploc baggie of obituaries from close family members that have passed away, and photos from when I was a young child and teenager.

I would explain to others that my son's baby book is very sentimental to me.  I waited until I was 37 to give birth to him after being told repeatedly that 
I may never be a mother.  His footprints are in there and many things that will remind me of his birth and my pregnancy including all his sonogram pictures.  

I would explain that the Ziploc baggie of obituaries are dear to me because it is all I have left to remember my loved ones including my grandfather, grandmother, great- grandmother, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I have collected them throughout the years of experiencing many deaths in our family.

I would then explain that photos are just special in general and carry many fond memories of my childhood.  

The insight that I gained from this exercise is that I never really thought about what things are really important to me.  I say this to say that, now that we've completed this exercise I want to keep these three things in a safe place together just in case!  I now know that the material things are not as important as the sentimental things that are dear to my heart that are not replaceable!

When I Think of Research

I have gained many insights about research from this course such as:  learning different terminology and definitions.  I enjoyed learning the difference between quantitative and qualitative design.  The website resources were helpful in gaining a more concrete definition of variables and their role in research, and ensuring that a hypotheses is not confused with an actual research question.  I realize that conducting research is very time consuming and requires a tremendous of amount of attention to detail.

My ideas about the nature of doing research has changed in ways such as I didn't realize that some internet articles have to be thoroughly researched in order to come to the conclusion of whether or not the resource is credible.  There are many articles that are not valid and would not enhance a research study.

The one most important lesson about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood I learned is that time and patience is definitely required in order to accomplish a successful research study.  Understanding the ethical challenges that I may be faced with is also key in planning, designing, and conducting research.

Some of the challenges I encountered during this course were understanding the terminology of research.  I had to review the definitions numerous times in order to grasp the differences of research terms....the ways that I met them was to continue to read, read, read, and review!  I even started reading out loud!

My perception of an early childhood professional has been modified as a result of this course for the better.  The charts were extremely helpful in preparing for the assignments each week, and these charts will also assist in the development of my resources in the early childhood profession.  I initially entered this course extremely afraid, and now upon the completion of this course, I have realized that it was not intimidating by any means and now I know the steps to take for a successful research study.

Research Around the World

The organization that I chose to research is the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA).  This is the link to the website: http://www.eecera.org/

There are current international research topics listed on this website. One of the topics/links that I found interesting was about the Korea Institute of Childcare and Education.  On this website there are research projects that are listed under three different categories: major research, occasional research, and entrusted research.  Some of these research topics are current status of extracurricular activities at kindergarten, a study on the effectiveness of childcare accreditation, and quality assurance in childcare facilities.  One research topic that I found enlightening was developing an intergrative support model for disadvantaged young children.  I found this enlightening because it warms my heart that even in other parts of the country there is a focus on supporting disadvantaged children.

There was some surprising facts, insights, and new ideas about early childhood that I did gain from exploring this international early childhood website.  I was very excited to learn that there is  assistance for children that are from low income families, just as we have CCMS (Child Care Services) here in the US.  The families also use the Childcare Service Ticket System and the Children’s Education Fee Electric Card Payment System just as our CCMS families enrolled in my facility.  Parent education and participation in childcare facilities and kindergarten is also a key factor in the early childhood field in Korea. There are also proposals for improvement of parent participation in Korea based on status surveys and foreign case analysis. 

I found this site very informative and easy to access information in early childhood in both Europe and Korea.  I feel that I am increasing my knowledge of the early childhood field all over the world!

Research That Benefits Children and Families-An Uplifting Story

I am honored to be able to share an inspiring story about a personal friend of mine that was diagnosed with a blood disorder entitled Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) exactly one year ago.  He was told that this was an acquired disease and the origin of disease in still unknown and there was no way to cure him!  He was then told the only chance of a comfortable life or possible cure was a Stem Cell Transplant, and up until this date, there are no possible matches for him…. This time last May he was barely walking, it hurt him to breathe, and/or talk. He lost blood at an alarming rate. His weight dropped to 145 lbs. and he was given the alarming statistics of life expectancy of three years after diagnosis.  He spent weeks on end being admitted in and out of the hospital, He also developed a near fatal blood clot in the vein leading to his liver....needless to say he has been through one heck of a year!

 He was approached by the doctors to try a drug that would work to keep him alive!  He was asked to participate in the research of finding a way to battle this horrible disease.  He is now taking the WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE DRUG!!!  The title of this drug is Eculizumab(Soliris) and it costs a whopping $41,279 every 14 days....this amounts to over $82k a month to keep him alive! He will have to take this drug for the rest of his life or until he finds a match for the Stem Cell Transplant.  Please if you can, go to www.marrow.org Register to save a life, possibly my good friend!  This story is beneficial to both children and families because my friend is still here today weighing in at 191 lbs, and instead of taking 22 pills a day, he now only takes four!  He is still here with his children and he has a baby on the way!  He told me that he will die with this disease, not FROM it!

My Personal Research Journey

My chosen topic for my research simulation during this course is Sign Language: Learning As
An Infant: Is It Effective Throughout Childhood? I originally chose to research whether sign
language would be effective throughout adulthood, but it would take at least twenty years to
complete! That's a long time! I chose to research a shorter period of time. I chose this topic
because I would like to further educate myself and develop the skills to educate the parents of
the infants and toddlers enrolled in my facility.  I also have a personal interest in this topic because I have an 18 month old son that communicates with me at home using sign language and he also communicates verbally.

I found this example image of a toddler signing "more" from the internet.  Will she remember this sign throughout childhood or do we have to continue to teach her as she grows older?  At what age do we as educators or parents stop teaching sign language for it to continue to be effective?

 The subtopic that I will focus on throughout my simulation is ways that sign language fosters social/emotional development in infants and toddlers.  Professionally, I feel that this is an important subtopic to ensure that all of my infants and toddlers are developing appropriately in the social/emotional category, resulting in a less stressful environment and reducing frustration in our infant/toddler program.  


I would appreciate any insights or advice that any of my colleagues would like to share regarding this topic.  Thank you Kimberley Martin for offering your resources early on in this course.  I am very excited about completing this research and applying it to my professional development,as well as educating myself as a parent with the development of my own toddler!