Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week in class we have discussed microagressions and its effects on people. I have noticed how frequent these mircoaggressions occur. This week I experiened one microaggresion that not only affected the person but also me as a bystander. I now know that mircroaggression not only affects the person it was directed to but also people that may hear or observe the act. The microaggresion that I observed was when I was in the grocery store and a Hispanic lady was paying for her groceries and she did not speak good English but she did know enough to understand the lady. When she walked up to be served in line the lady got close to her and spoke loud and slowly. The Hispanic lady just looked and spoke back to her to ensure her that she knew English. I was next in line and I was so offended. What the cashier was imposing was the Hispanic lady could not understand and speak English. The lady nicely paid for her food and left. This microaggression affected me also because I was upset that the lady had to experience this. I personally remember a microaggression that was geared towards me. When I went to the doctor to have my annual visit my doctor asked her normal questions. When she got to the question about birth control I said to her that I did not need them because I am abstinant. Since she looked at my chart and noticed that I had a child and I was not married she assumed that I was going to try and have more children. She keep trying to make me take birth control and I told her that I was waiting for marriage to have more children. She keep on insisting that I needed them. This was so offensive because I was excited that I was not in a position to have children and she put me in the category with other women that are also single parents. This event did not happen this week but I can still remember it. Microaggression have lasting effects that sometimes effects others around. I now understand that I can't judge people based on what I see. This week I have learned a lot.