09 Jul Discussion: Cultural Diversity and Microaggressions

Module 2: CriticalIssues in the Classroom: Critical and Emerging Issues in Diversity, Part 1:Cultural Diversity (Week 3)

 

Although issues related todiversity in educational environments are constantly evolving, they tend toremain the same in their foundation. The basis of some of these issues iscultural diversity and, more specifically, can also include a concept known asmicroaggressions, which is explored this week. The term microaggression may berelatively new to some, but it is critically important to understand whenworking with children (and all people) of diverse backgrounds. Without aworking knowledge of this concept, microaggressions can take placeinadvertently and cause unintended, negative, and damaging consequences. Inthis weeks Learning Resources, you see the impact of issues related tocultural diversity and microaggressions.

Thisweek, you develop strategies for identifying microaggressions and analyzeissues related to cultural diversity. You explore a case study involving issuesrelated to diversity and microaggressions. You also begin working on yourAnnotated Bibliography, which will be incorporated into your Learning OutcomesProject.

 

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze the relationship between diversity and microaggressions
• Analyze issues related to culture, diversity, and microaggressions
• Develop annotated bibliographies related to diversity

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Gorski,P. C., & Pothini, S. G. (2018). Case studies on diversity and socialjustice education (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.

        

       Case 5.4, Multicultural Day Parade (pp. 44-45)

       Case 5.5, A Place to Study (pp. 45-47)

       Appendix B, Points for Consideration (pp. 102-137)

Moule,J. (2012). Cultural competence: A primer for educators (2nd ed.).Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

       Chapter 9: Critical Issues in Working With Culturally DifferentStudents (pp. 203233)

 

 

 

Required Media

LaureateEducation (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Videofile]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Note: Theapproximate length of this media piece is 21 minutes.

 

Accessibleplayer 
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LaureateEducation (Producer). (2013). Understanding cultural and linguisticdiversity in literacy education [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Note: Theapproximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes.

 

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Optional Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discussion: CulturalDiversity and Microaggressions

Imagine a Caucasianteenager making the following statement to an African American peer in a veryeven tone: You dont act like a normal black person. How did you react tothis statement? How did it make you feel? Why do you think it made you feelthat way? To some, the statement above might sound like something that you mayhave said in the past in a very matter-of-fact manner, meaning no harm or evenintending to pay a compliment. To others, it might seem like an obvious andblatant insult. Still others may have no reaction to it whatsoever.

 

Thestatement is just one example of what is referred to as a microaggression, theeveryday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults,whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, ornegative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized groupmembership (University of California, 2015).

 

For thisDiscussion, you analyze a case study that is of interest to you, and explorecultural diversity and microaggressions.

 

Toprepare:

• Chapter 9 in the Moule course text
• The video Microaggressions
• The reading Tool: Recognizing Microaggressions and the Messages They Send
• The video Understanding Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Literacy Education
• The multimedia file Is it a Microaggression?
• Case studies in the Gorski course text. Focus on one of the case studies that is relevant to your setting or addresses an issue of interest to you. Be sure to consult Appendix B for the Points for Consideration related to the case study you select.
•  

By Day 3

Post thefollowing:

• A description of the relationship between diversity and microaggressions
• At least three examples of microaggressions you saw in the media files
• At least two examples of issues that can be caused by microaggressions
• An explanation of how the case study you focused on is relevant to your setting and/or addresses an issue of interest to you and/or included examples of microaggressions

 

By Day 5

Respond toat least two colleagues in at least one of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question about diversity in your colleagues setting
• Support your colleagues post with additional information related to diversity