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PREJUDICE-ENFORCING
EXPERIENCE BACKGROUND
I can currently think of a prejudice I still have, although in thinking back to my childhood and adolescent years, I cannot recall how or when it began. I can think of a few personal experiences I had throughout the years which strengthened my opinion and prejudices. I am a Latina woman who has struggled in my own way to finally be proud of my heritage. It was not a fast nor easy process for me. I did not always think the way I do now, yet I have always been bothered when asked if I am of a different race other than my own. Again, I do not know where my prejudice derived from, but it feel it. I hate to be asked if I am "Persian," from the Middle East. Maybe I first heard it from my own mother. She meant no harm., but she made comments about this a few times. I suppose I do have some of their features and possibly their skin color. I know they do not mean to insult me nor make me feel a certain way, but I have found myself at times answering their questions quite abruptly. At first, I would have conversations with them, and explained my nationality, but then as it continued to happen I would get upset and figured I did not want to have to explain every time it happened. So why does it still bother me? I think because of stereotypes I have of Persian men. My stereotypes have been proven for me time and time again. I feel as though they are money hungry and will use anyone in order to get where and what they want. This has been proven to me several times by friends who were employed at different companies in which the owners were Persian. The owners not only paid them unfairly, but did things illegally in the ways they handled their business, finances, and paid their employees. I have also seen a number of times how different men and women are treated. Women, I feel, basically do not have a say in things. Boys learn at an early age that they can get what they want, and throw tantrums if they do not get it, while young girls are taught to be quiet and submissive. Persian men, I feel are very flirtatious, and do not care if they degrade women. What tops it off for me is the odor that these men have. I understand that it is part of their culture and Persian women are attracted to it, but it repulses me.I know and understand that my prejudice comes from the stereotypes I have, but I have yet to meet a Persian man who does not fit. This confrontation does not happen quite as often anymore, and I do not react in this way towards Persians who do not ask me such questions. I hope that I am able to overcome this prejudice one day, but until then I will deal with it one issue at a time, one day at a time.There were no teachers who played a role in this experience.From a child who grew up feeling somewhat hostile toward a certain cultural group, I strongly believe it is important for teachers to integrate as well as teach multiculturalism in the classroom. The classroom is the perfect place to introduce this to children. Parents may have prejudices and may or may not instill them in their children. Providing other information allows children to eventually form their own opinion of different races and cultures. BACK
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CHRISTINA'S
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I can currently think of a prejudice I still have, although
in thinking back to my childhood
and adolescent years, I cannot recall how or when it began.
I can think of a few personal experiences I had throughout
the years which strengthened my opinion and prejudices. I am
a Latina woman who has struggled in my own way to finally be
proud of my heritage. It was not a fast nor easy process for
me. I did not always think the way I do now, yet I have
always been bothered when asked if I am of a different race
other than my own. Again, I do not know where my prejudice
derived from, but
it feel it. I hate to be asked if I am "Persian," from the