This week I found myself very aware of the interactions
around me. I was on the lookout for
microaggressions in all settings. What I
found was that I actually had an interaction with a friend that could be seen
as a form of microaggression. My friend Janine
moved here from Canada less than a year ago.
She and her husband always get teased about being Canadian. While friends mean these things good-naturedly
I started to realize that they could be hurtful. The other day Janine was telling a story
about a car trip she and her husband took.
She made the statement that she tried to get the “transporters” to honk
at her on the highway. I jokingly told
her, “Here in the United States we call those semis, Canada.” I did not think anything of this comment at
the time, but later in the week it dawned on me that this was a form of
microaggression. Janine and her husband
will always feel like outsiders if we keep joking like this. Making a comment that exploits how they are
different and making them feel as though they don’t belong in the US because of
the things they say is just not okay.
Well-intentioned people say things that could be considered
microaggressions quite often. I am glad
that this course has brought it to my attention. I would never want someone to feel
discriminated against by something that I said.
If my friend would have brought up this interaction before this course I
would have thought she was overreacting.
After watching the video segment this week I realize how hurtful things
like this can be. While my comment was
not meant harshly and was only one little thing (to me) it could be compounding
from Janine’s point of view.
Allison,
ReplyDeleteFirst I commend you for admitting to your microaggression. I know several people that would have deflected and not acknowledge their comment. I think when we are joking around with friends, it is easy to make comments that we do not mean and can be seen as microaggressions. We tend to think, or at least I did, that because we are friends they know I am not discriminating against them. However, as you said, it still hurts and they may not feel accepted if comments are made about them being from Canada. Have you considered talking to your friends about this? Thank you for your thoughts.
Myra