Reflective Journal: Who Am I?—The Journey Continues
You began your studies of diversity in this course by asking a seemingly simple question: Who am I? Each week you revisited your initial answer, added new insights that reflected your increasingly deeper understanding of diversity and related topics, and modified, extended, and/or rewrote your initial response. Take some time to review all your previous entries:
- In what ways do the changes you made each week reflect your professional and personal growth?
- In what ways are you the same as and/or different from 7 weeks ago?
- In what ways do you relate to diversity today compared to when you started this Reflection Assignment?
- Considering your increased understanding of diversity, in what ways, if any, would you want to modify any or all of the three professional goals which you articulated in the Reflection Assignment of Week1?
Title this assignment: Diversity Profile—Week 7 and complete the following:
- Write a short essay in which you present a composite of who you are today. Integrate into this essay insights gained as a result of this course and include your original three goals or a revised version.
Assignment length: at least 1 page.
Running head: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL DIVERSITY PROFILE WEEK 2
Running head: DIVERSITY PROFILE WEEK 2
Week 2 Assignment: Reflective Journal: Who Am I? The Journey Continues
Alexis Lowe
EDUC 6164: Perspectives On Diversity and Equity
Walden University
Professor Wendy McCarthy
July 8, 2020
Despite black women having greater aspirations to lead and often outwork or even outperform their white counterparts, much research has found that as a black african-american woman we often experience numerous barriers to advancement when it comes to promotions, training, advancement and support. According to Kells McPhillips (2020) there is a lack of diversity among the people who hold the most power in the United States simply because the needs of black people are often ignored. A few personal experiences with power and the power structure inherent in dominant cultures are going into certain stores, and being harassed. Mainly because of the color of my skin, security assumes that I am more likely to steal. Or how realtors do not offer me the same selection of homes as white people commonly referred to as racial steering. Even more so, a personal experience of power is being pulled over by a traffic cop, but singled out because of my race and the car I drive.Nonetheless, I have also experienced power when it came down to receiving a promotion in my workplace. Even though I qualified for the position just the same as any other racial group, I was denied the promotion simply because the company couldn’t have a black woman as the face of the company. These are just a few examples of power that I believe white people and people of power take advantage of every day. Time after time black young women have come back empty handed or cheated while the white women or males get the job, apartment and the best car deal.
When discussing my family culture and dominant cultures one connection among them is the need to feel we are one big family. During times of national holidays or international crises, my family loves to come together with great strength and unity. One thing I have noticed about the dominant culture here in America is how much they value Patriotism for their earned status, individualism, self-reliance and independence which they deem necessary in order to survive and prosper in the American society. Another connection between my family culture and the dominant culture is time orientation. I have been taught not only by my family, but also society how important it is to value punctuality.
The dominant culture has taught us “time is money” something we continue to instill into our children by scheduling their days in and out of school. Even more so, the dominant culture focuses on the future, and we instill this into our children by encouraging them to delay gratification, earn good grades, or even save their money. Moreover, one way in which I am not a part of a dominant culture is because I do not fear conflict. According to the article of Gita & Maggie (2014) those who identify themselves as part of a dominant culture are afraid of conflict and tend to either ignore it or run away from it. My family culture has taught me to see conflicts as an opportunity for deeper understanding, relationship building and positive organizational change. Another way I know I am not a part of a dominant culture is the belief that there is only one right way to do things and once people are forced into seeing the “right way” they will eventually see the light and learn to adopt it. Being raised in a predominantly black neighborhood and home we were taught to accept there are numerous ways to get to the same goal. And we should never assume that we know what is best for the next person.
Finally, consequences of my experiences with cultural discontinuity in my own life or in the lives of members of my family is being judged for not remaining a virgin until marriage. My parents barred my sister and I from activities of dating, sexual intercourse or even talking to boys until marriage because they deemed it to be a sin or activities that only two loving adults would do. Versus in the dominant culture we were forced to unlearn that sort of behavior as the social value of sexual abstinence before marriage has steadily declined. Another consequence of my experience with cultural discontinuity in my own life or in the lives of members of my family is behaving as spoiled kids or immature. This sort of behavior is accepted in children, but not appropriate for adults as we are seen as emotionally stuck in a place or even worse perceiving the world through the lens of unsatisfied needs.
References
McPhillips, K. (6 June 2020). Black Women are routinely denied positions of power in America and there are consequences. Retrieved July 8, 2020, from
https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/black-women-in-positions-of-power/
Partee-Gulati, G., & Potapchuk, M. (2014). Paying attention to white culture and privilege: A missing link to advancing racial equity. Journal of the Foundation Review, 6(1), 25-37.
Running head: WHAT ARE MY SOCIAL IDENTITIES?
Running head: My Social Identities
Week 1 Assignment: My Social Identities
Alexis Lowe
Walden University
EDUC 6164: Perspectives on Diversity and Equity
Professor Wendy McCarthy
July 2nd, 2020
Identifying My Social Identities
According to the text of Deaux (2001) Social identities express who we are based on our beliefs as an individual. There are various ways social identities can be constructed. For example, race and ethnicity, education, religion, social class and so forth. Even more so, social identity is made up of the labels projected onto a person based on how society views someone’s personal identity. However, one must remember there are some factors which are extremely important in shaping one’s personal social identity such as, their culture, memories, traditions or even their societal labels. Furthermore, according to the article titled, “Does culture shape our identity” it is safe to say social identities include self-characteristics that will be used to categorize and group individuals within our society. Therefore, the social identities I have chosen are: feminist, middle-class, Democrat, mother, African-American, Pentacostal Christian, Heterosexual, young adult, and Black Lives Matter.
The Social Identity that cannot be Categorized
The one social identity that can not be categorized is the Black Lives Matter. It can not be categorized simply because it is not a social identity rather an ideological and political intervention where many blacks are advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality facing many African-American individuals in today’s society. Over the last few months, we have seen many protests spread across the United States rallying for Black Lives Matter. Many African-Americans took to the street protesting, pushing many supporters and allies to the polls for the November 2020 Presidential Election. Many African-Americans demand justice and even changes on the issues of racial injustice, police brutality, criminal justice reform, black immigration and even more leniency in voting rights led by suppression.
Disadvantages/Advantages of my social identities
Unfortunately, it hurts me to say the least that having a social identity of being Black or African-American is a disadvantage to me. According to the text of Horowitz, Brown & Cox (2019) Regardless of race or ethnicity, many adults say blacks are treated less fairly than whites in encounters with police or the Criminal Justice system. Even more so, being a Black African- American has hurt my ability to get ahead. Even more so, growing up with Black African-American brothers many white people have acted as though we were suspicious or let alone not even half as smart when compared to other races. Furthermore, growing up in a predominantly African-American household and neighborhood we were taught early on about the challenges we might face simply because of our race. For example, we could get shot by the police while unarmed.
However, I will say that my social identities of being a feminst, christian and a young adult have been an advantage for me. Being a mother, I have learned to love someone else besides myself. Even better than that, being a mother has helped me in regards to personal growth in becoming more patient, responsible and even sympathetic. Now, when it comes to being Christian I also see this social identity as an advantage. My religion of Christianity is what gets me up in the morning. It is important and an advantage because it allows me to worship with great benefits of spiritual and emotional growth; thus, a sense of belonging. Christianity has taught me what is right or wrong morally which I abide by daily in order to live a peaceful happy life in today’s society. Lastly, being the social identity I have chosen such as a fat person is indeed a disadvantage. Being labeled or called “Fat” poses not only detrimental threats to my health physically but also mentally. It makes me doubt my beauty on the inside and out. However, being given the social identity of “Fat” makes it hard for me to go out in public without being judged or ridiculed based on my weight.
Stereotypical Traits
Runninghead: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: WHO AM I?
Running head: WHO AM I? THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
Week 5 Reflective Journal: Who Am I? The Journey Continues
Alexis Lowe
Walden University
Professor Wendy McCarty
EDUC 6164: Perspective on Diversity and Equity
July 29, 2020
Institutional Inequalities
Despite efforts to ensure institutional gender equality across the world, certain factors still compromise this progress. Reports from the precious U.S census show that the number of women in politics is still deficient along with the number of women in top positions. There have been doubts that the progress towards gender equality is uneven. The argument that women are taking over the world can only be justified by looking at statistics on employment, political representation, and equal pay. The ILO survey, which was conducted previously on young women graduates, showed that over 30 percent of young women in the U.S are unemployed compared to their male counterparts with less than 20 percent (Deaux, 2001). The report on black women graduates who are unemployed was even worse as it showed that 60 percent of black women graduates are currently unemployed in the U.S. Also, the report indicated that young women graduates below 25 years are two times unlikely to get employment than elderly ones.
Ageism
Furthermore, young black Americans below 25 years old were also found to be twice unlikely to get employed in formal sectors compared to their white counterparts. When I look at these reports, I feel discouraged as a black American student of my fate and my chances to secure formal employment after graduation. These reports have also inspired me to share my experience on institutional inequality, sexism, and ageism (Horowitz, Brown & Cox, 2019). To address these issues, I have focused on diversity issues at workplaces and the challenges of gender diversity in workplaces. According to the previous interview conducted by the CNN with young black American graduates on reasons why there are many young black American women in the job market than any other minority group in the U.S, one of the respondents said that it’s because many employers are not willing to absorb black women terming them to be less qualified and challenging to align with the organization culture (Horowitz, Brown & Cox, 2019). Another respondent claimed that many black American women are stereotyped against by customers by claiming that they have a bad attitude and are not competent, thereby making employers shun their applications.
Several working environments have not achieved workplace diversity in the U.S. this is because many leaders are faced with how to manage the diverse population at the workplace in a manner that positively influences the organization (Horowitz, Brown & Cox, 2019). Besides, managers have failed to develop an HR strategy that ensures that every employee’s contribution regardless of their ethnic background, sex, or age is valued as a means to ensure the smooth running of organizations.
Sexism
Apart from institutional inequality and age, most of my black friends have complained about sex contributing to a lack of diversity in workplaces. The report by the New York Times revealed that men had recorded much stability in labor participation rates in different income groups across the country (On Views of Race and Inequality, Blacks and Whites Are Worlds Apart, 2020). The report further indicated that men had dominated several large companies across the in the U.S. however, the most interesting part of this report was that there is only 5 percent of American black men who heads the top fifty 500 companies in the U.S. besides, the report indicated that from the 60 percent of men population in formal employment, only 8 percent are black Americans (Horowitz, Brown & Cox, 2019). So my question is when there will ever be equality in the U.S because, as black Americans, we feel that the country has neglected our contribution and role in the country’s economic growth. We are not being recognized as people who also deserve a better life and proper protection in the country. Because there are few black American men in employment, many have opted for arts and music to express what we are going through. Through creativity and music, many black Americans have thrived and become famous and rich thanks to social media!
Based on these discussions, it is clear that the government needs to be done at the individual level to ensure equality and diversity in the United States. Employers should consider hiring employees regardless of age, sex, or originality. The government should also put stringent measures and policies that emphasize gender inclusivity at workplaces and other institutions such as schools and churches.
References
Deaux, K. (2001). In J. Worell (Ed.), Encyclopedia of women and gender (Vols. 1-2, pp. 1-9). Maryland Heights, MO: Academic Press.
Horowitz, J. M., Brown, A., & Cox, K. (2019, December 31). Views of racial inequality in America. Retrieved July 04, 2020, from
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/04/09/views-of-racial-inequality/
On Views of Race and Inequality, Blacks and Whites Are Worlds Apart. (2020, June 15). Retrieved July 15, 2020, from
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/06/27/on-views-of-race-and-inequality-blacks-and-whites-are-worlds-apart/
Running head: WHO AM I? THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
Week 4 Assignment 2: Diversity Profile
Alexis Lowe
EDUC 6164: Perspectives on Diversity and Equity
Walden University
Professor Wendy McCarty
July 20, 2020
According to the Laureate Education video (2011) many times people commit microaggressions without meaning to, based upon biases, assumptions, or stereotypes that they did not realize they were holding. Microaggressions may seem small, especially when they were not done on purpose. This is why it is important as individuals to test our own self biases to avoid microaggressions. For quite a few of us, microaggressions are so common, that we find it near impossible to tackle them one at a time. However, my personal experience with microaggression was my third year in college. I went to a private university and it was predominately white. While living in the dorm room I made new friends with people from all across the world. Yet, one day I had a close friend say to another of our friends, “I’m not racist, I have black friends.” At first, I didn’t respond, but then I had to address the issue at hand. This example of microaggression equates racism with prejudice. Racism entails the policies and practices that uphold the ideas of white people as superior and black people as inferior. I told my close friend that saying such a thing was offensive. As found in the text of Margles & Margles (2010) while we may not be racially prejudiced, just because you know black people does not mean you do not engage in invidious behavior or fail to challenge racist exercises. While I don’t think her microaggression was intentional, it communicated to me as a negative racial message that just because I know someone black I can’t be a racist. Even if we all have the best intentions of supporting racial policies, all of us can be a racist.
After the brutal killing of George Floyd by police officers, my attitude toward racism continues to shift daily. According to the text of Barry-Jester (2015), every measure of black people in the United States fare worse than white people do. I strongly believe that racism is a social issue. Racism makes me feel powerless and silenced. I thought racism was over when people like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X fought for our equal rights. To my surprise, racism still exists today. Imagine raising a child in this world, where racism exists, and we fear being killed because of the color of our skin. I know racism will never completely go away. Shall we continue to be raped, beaten, and murdered by those of the dominant culture? Should we continue to be treated as second class citizens? As black individuals are we not offered the same freedom, justice, and equality as other members of society? So, you ask, “what are your attitudes about racism; Well I will have to say my attitude toward racism is being awarded the same freedom to come and go without having to look over my shoulder. Or wonder if my sons’ have become a target because of their skin color. I want the freedom to think, speak, and provide for my family. I want the criminal justice system to work for black people who are treated unfairly by those who were sworn by oath to protect.
Furthermore, my personal experience with any of the “isms” began with classism. Growing up I never really had a lot of friends. It never bothered me until I went to college, and decided I should change that. I wanted to meet new people and build more long-lasting relationships so I decided I would join a sorority. Unfortunately, I was denied or not accepted into the sorority because of my social status. These girls considered themselves to be high class, and well you know being a black, African-Amercian female I was assumed to be low class for that sorority. To them I was poor, and couldn’t even afford to keep up with them or whatever else it took to be a part of them. This is a true example of classism. Being rejected from a sorority because I am middle or low class. Sadly to say, symbolic interactionism teaches individuals that a person’s social class is the result of talent and effort. If you’re on the bottom, you do not have the skills, talents, or motivation needed to succeed; while those on top (high class) have worked extra hard and have what it takes to keep them ahead.
I have never experienced ableism. Up until recently, I never even knew ableism existed. However, I can recall an incident that is similar to ableism. I have a friend who is legally blind. She lost her sight in her late twenties due to a genetic disease affecting the women in her family. A group of us went out to eat at a restaurant to celebrate the surviving midterm week. The hostess/waiter spoke with everyone at the table directly except my friend Nancy. When the waitress got to Nancy, she asked us if we knew what she wanted to eat or drink. This sort of behavior made Nancy sad and upset. She shouted, “I may not be able to see you, but I can hear you and I am still a human being. While I may not truly understand what it is like to be legally blind, I do know that Nancy regardless of her disability still wants to be treated like a human being. We should consider disabled people human beings worthy of conversation. Just because you can not see, doesn’t disqualify you from speaking for yourself (Ford, 2009).
Racism is never easy to address. Unfortunately, racism still exists today in our society. And for those who say it doesn’t, are dismissing America’s oppressive past, and disregarding the current racial issues the country continues to face today. My personal experience with racism is when I hear people and my close friends say, “You speak so proper” or “You act so white to be a black person.” Even though I face these countless microaggression comments regarding my race, I try to downplay as though these comments do not hurt my feelings. Despite these experiences of racism, classism, and ableism these experiences have shaped my view of the world. We are all born with integrity, and for those we surround ourselves with should recognize we all have a deep human desire to be treated equally. By reminding ourselves, and those around us how valuable we are; no one loses sight of my vulnerability. In honoring other people’s dignity, it will strengthen my own.
References
Barry-Jester, M.A. (2015, June 23). Attitudes Toward Racism And Inequality Are Shifting. Retrieved July 21, 2020, from
Ford, A. R. (2009). It’s not just about racism, but ableism. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 26(4), 16.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microagressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://class.waldenu.edu
Margles, S., & Margles, R. M. (2010). Inverting racism’s distortions. Our Schools/Our Selves, 19(3), 137-149.
https://alexisloweece.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-personal-side-of-bias-prejudice-and.html#more
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https://kindergartenjo.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-personal-side-of-bias-prejudice-and.html?showComment=1597014524663#c6743349797200152455
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