Microaggression

After breakfast today, two colleagues Anne, Bryan and I went back to the office together. On the way back, Anne said my profile picture on Wechat looked much thinner than now. And she said she couldn’t imagine it and laughed. I told her I become plump because I was pregnant, gave birth to my son and age issue, I told her I never felt how fat I am because I was very thin before. Bryan said he knew a joke about a couple of a fat man and a ugly woman. The couple fought a day, the fat man told the ugly woman I was thin before, but you…!

Well, I know they were joke and they have no idea of how this word would let me feel. I kept thinking about their words for few hours, and made my mind to lose weight, and doubting about if I am really “fat”?

For the three forms of microagression, microassaults, microinsults, microinvalitation mentioned in this week’s video, I felt like I was microinsulted. I become more sensitive about people’s language, and try to keep myself away from the sterotyping.

culture and diversity

I talked to a visiting professor of our school, a student who is from U.S., and a local Chinese language teacher.

They all talked about that their present culture is much different from where they were born. And they struggled a lot to fit themselves in. Their family and the community they live in request differently to them. 

The student said several teachers are the fans of celebrating birthdays and holidays but some teachers ignore those a lot. This makes him confused a lot. 

Culture is much more complex than I thought and you may see an Asian face but with very American thinking styles. I must be very careful and do not sterotype anyone.

My Family Culture

If I have to leave China and could never come back, and I can take three items from China to be with me, though it’s very hard to choose, but I will choose a pair of shoe-pad made by my mother, a DVD of Kun Opera, and a cheongsam.

A pair of shoe pad made by my mother means a lot. It let me feel I am connected with my family, the warmth accompanies me, and remind of myself where my spirit is. Choosing A DVD of Kun Opera, first because I love music and opera, second, it shows the history of China, how my ancestor thought and expressed themselves, it made me know my own history and I can introduce to the people in the new country our opera culture and Chinese history. And let me know how much I am proud of being a Chinese.

Cheongsam is what I love to dress. Cheongsam is a sign of being Chinese woman, it is as beautiful as peony, and remind of being tender but strong-hearted.

If I was told I could only keep one, I will feel my wholeness is torn into parts, I will lose some identities of mine.

This exercise is so meaning to me. I have not thought about my country culture and my connection to my own culture so deeply before. I love my country, but never have to idea why I love and which part I love. And I never thought about the deep influence the culture I am from taken to me. Through these two weeks exploring about my social identity, I feel all the pieces happened to me connected into whole. The journey in this course is so wonderful.