What memory do you have of an
incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or
witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression?
I have experienced prejudice
and bias many times during my life. As a child growing up I had people that
refused to be my friend or shake my hand because it is burnt. When you’re a 10
year old and your peers refuse to play with you because your hand is different
it hurts. I actually had peers call me “crispy”. The most hurtful experience I
had with prejudice happen when my husband and I went for a time share seminar.
We had taken a break and the man doing the presentation told his female co-worker to “go get that fat black
beach whale b***h.” After this weeks learning’s I now see that there were some
oppression in there too.
In what way(s) did the specific
bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?
It diminished equity by making
me feel that my black race was not worthy of being there and that as a woman he
had not only shown disrespect to me but all women. It made me feel that as a
mixed race over weight female that I was not worthy of his time in presenting
the information about the time share (which I had wanted to buy until he made
those comments). I have never been to another presentation like that again; I
try to avoid activity that is presented by males.
What feelings did this incident
bring up for you?
This incident had me feeling
like I was worthy less, a was a fat whale and that as a mixed female that I was
seen as unworthy of owing property. I also had a major dislike for white males
for many years after.
What and/or who would have to
change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?
I believe that he and his
female co-worker would both have to change in order for this to become an
opportunity for greater equity. He needs to learn how to treat people equally
regardless of their race, weight or gender. She needs to learn the same things
because if he talks about me as a female like that he will talk negatively
about her being a female.
Chenieka - I hope you learned from that experience that it was the man that had several serious issues and not you. You are a strong woman that I have grown to respect greatly thoughout our several courses together. No one should have been treated the way he treated you. I am sure that his words were hurtful and had a lasting impression. Unfortunately, most hurtful words do. Did you report him to his manager? I am sure the parent company would not want someone like that representing them in the public.
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