Despite the active liberation process, even nowadays, people representing minorities still experience such problems as microaggression and prejudice. For this reason, people should recognize bias and prejudice, which would help create a society comfortable for everyone. In this paper, I will also describe how do I recognize my own bias and connection to systems of oppression, inequality, and violence.
One of the results of prejudice against the minorities and people from another culture is microaggression. The term “microaggression” is used to refer to “subtle negative exchanges’ addressed towards African Americans. Nowadays, it has been extended, and it is applied not only to African Americans but to all minorities. In general, microaggression is subtle discrimination, compared to macroaggression, which is expressed through such violent acts as, for example, beating people. Microaggression can be expressed in a phrase, by behavior, or by organizing the environment in a way that insults representatives of minorities.
In addition, good examples of microaggression are given in the video called “What kind of Asian are you?” (2013). The main character of the video is asking an Asian woman where she is from. She tries to explain that she is from America, but he fails to understand that she has been living in America all of her life. Thus, he diminishes her identity, conveying some stereotypes about Asians (kimchi, teriyaki, and so on). As a response, the woman starts an inversed dialogue, pretending that she does not understand that the man really comes from America. To my mind, this is an interesting example of a microaggression that works against discrimination.
Moreover, microaggression, prejudice, and bias are applied to all minorities. One of the greatest bias is the one against LGBTQ, as it has been suppressed by religion and morals for hundreds of years. Even nowadays, many LGBT people experience shunning and aggression. It decreases the quality of their life. They sometimes experience harassment, violence, and victimization related to their gender identity.
The topic of homosexuality can easily become a source of aggression in a group. For example, according to the video “LGBTQ – How you see me,” people feel endangered when they talk to a homosexual person. Some LGBT people say that their parents were showing them to a psychiatrist. Thus, people often demonstrate indifference to some stereotypes defining the way homosexual people should behave. For LGBT people, it is sometimes a challenge to accept themselves and to demonstrate it to others.
As for my own experience, earlier, I have been influenced by my elderly relatives, who taught me that homosexuality is not normal. However, when the time passed, I realized that everyone has a right to choose any partner. It is important that everyone could express their identity in a free manner, without fear. Fear is the basis for the violence and for the building of a suppressive society. On the contrary, in a free society, people should cherish each other’s personality despite the bias associated with some group.
Bias and prejudice often occur due to the lack of awareness about certain minority or culture. That is why the basics of intercultural communication can minimize it. Cultural awareness can help to understand not only people from another culture but also to understand “the contours of our cultural boxes” (Cabell, p.1). Thus, cultural awareness can help in communication not only with people from other cultures but also with minorities or with people who are the objects of stereotypes.
Thus, it is important, on the one hand, to rely on information about a certain culture. On the other hand, it is important to realize that anyone is a person with their own identity, experience, and unique traits of character. The national basis cannot replace it, although it can shape the values and beliefs the person shares.
Another type of aggression based on prejudice and lack of cultural awareness is Anti-Asian hate. It is mostly based on stereotypes that can be applied to any Asian-looking person regardless of their actual cultural background. According to the stereotypes described in the video “Asians: How you see me” (2016), Asians are supposed to be smart, insincere, reserved, and hard-working. Like any other stereotype, it creates a basis for prejudice, bias, and miscommunication.
During the COVID-19 pandemics, the level of violence against Asians has increased. It is caused by the fact that people blame the Chinese for the coronavirus. To my mind, it is absolutely unacceptable to behave violently against people of different ancestry, blaming them for the occurrence of a virus. Besides, during communication with anyone, it is important to remember that a person has both personal traits and traits shaped by their culture. Besides, it can be difficult to understand the person’s ancestry and native culture at first sight. Thus, people should always respect the personality, learn more about the person, and not judge according to stereotypes.
As for me, I have never faced open aggression during pandemics. However, I started to feel tense about it, because I saw it in the streets. I hope that when the crisis passes, the things will go back to normal state. As for microaggression connected with the stereotypes about my culture, I experienced bullying at school. People made fun of me because of my poor English. Besides, I often saw how people told the Chinese to go back to China because they “do not belong” there.
I think that it is a good idea to explain the people about my personal background to increase their awareness about it. However, I liked the strategy of “mirror” replies demonstrated in the video about an Asian woman, but I think it can be rude and applied only in extreme cases.
References
How you see me. (2016). Asian: How you see me. Web.
Cabell, C. (n.d.). The importance of cultural awareness.
How you see me. (2016). LGBTQ – How you see me. [Video file]. Web.
Helpmefindparents (2013). What kind of Asian are you? [Video file]. Web.