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PREJUDICE-ENFORCING
EXPERIENCE BACKGROUND When I was around the age of eight, I was living in Riverside, CA. We had just moved there and were living in an apartment complex. I felt lucky because the pool was right in front of our place. In fact, I had a perfect view of it. I love to swim, so this was a big plus for me. Some new neighbors moved in across the way-two women and a girl. The women made it clear that they were a couple. My dad, being old fashioned, made it no secret to us that he was unhappy about this. My mom, of course, was worried that he may influence me. I have a pretty strong personality so she knew I would be able to form my own opinions. It was weird for me to see the women together. I was raised Catholic and that is not acceptable, so I was told. I never judged them, I just thought it was different. After they had been living there for a couple of weeks, they began showing PDA (public displays of affection). Not just holding hands, but really "making out" at the pool area. It was terrible! I don’t even like to see two heterosexuals "making out". I think it was at the moment that my opinions began to change. I was disgusted by the two women and their lack of respect for their neighbors. I found myself judging them and feeling they were inferior to others. I remember thinking they were not "normal". I felt badly for the little girl having to be raised by two "strange" women. It wasn’t until I was older, and met some people who confided in me that they were homosexuals, that I realized how much of an impact those two women had on me. I have always been one to believe "Each to his own". So over the years I never really dwelled on it. When I had friends, though, who were confiding in me, I realized a lot. BACK TO MENU | MICHELE'S PREJUDICE-REDUCING EXPERIENCE  Top of Page Home | Power of Teaching | Believing is Seeing | Truth or Consequences | That Was Fun |
