Acaydia School AL Understanding Privilege Systems and Discrimination Student Response

Please respond to shannon with 350 words, and include citations and references:

Understanding Privilege Systems and Discrimination ResponseQuestions:1. What was your initial reaction when you watched the videos?2. How familiar were you with this topic before you watched the video?3. How would you describe your own personal identity?4. What personal “Rewards’ and “Punishments” have you experienced in yourlife by virtue of your personal identity?5. How have you been “Programmed” to view others?7. How can you use your personal “Bank Account” to create social change inyour work with children and/or their families.After watching the videos my initial reaction was that I thought it was reallyinteresting how Peggy McIntosh began to realize the privilege she had received for thingsshe did not earn by being born white. I also thought it was interesting how she said sheprayed on it and would wake up in the middle of the night and wrote 46 examples of howshe is privileged. These examples she gave such as knowing if she gets pulled over its notbecause of her race, that she is sure that if she moves her neighbors will be pleasant, andif she goes shopping she knows she will not be harassed or followed. These were veryeye opening to read and really made me think about the struggles people of colorexperience everyday and the ways I have been privileged because of my race or gender.I would say I’m familiar with this topic because of everything that has beenhappening in the world these days with people standing up against racism. Also, I comefrom mixed cultures and my husband also comes from mixed cultures. My husband’s dadis African American and his mom is Swedish. I have heard many stories from hischildhood and the struggles his parents went through for getting married such as theirfamily not approving and also the ways my husband was treated because he was “lightskinned”. Growing up my husband was considered black by his white friends, but notblack enough for his black friends. I would describe my personal identity asmulticultural. My mom is part Mexican and Native American and my dad is Jewish fromRussia. I would say I have experienced rewards financially growing up because my dad’sfamily was very educated and they are doctors, lawyers, and business owners. Theseexpectations were passed down to my dad who is a successful business owner so growingup we never struggled financially. Some punishments are stereotypes from being Jewishsuch as being called a spoiled Jewish princess or jokes about my nose or greed. I am alsopart Mexican but I don’t speak any Spanish so when we visit my mom’s family theywould say we were “white washed”. It was also hard as a child because I wanted sodesperately to fit in with one group, but I couldn’t because I was a mix of culture.I think I have been programmed to view others with respect because of the factthat I am a mixed culture. Some other ways I am programmed though come from my upbrining with regards to gender stereotypes. I was programmed to think that the man is theone who should be the financial breadwinner while the mom/wife stays home, cares forthe children and takes care of the house. I myself became a stay at home mom after I hadmy children just like my mom. I now realize I want a career of my own and decided tobreak this cycle and return to school to get my degree and a job that fulfills me.I can use my personal “Bank Account” to create social change in my future workwith children and their families my learning from the experiences I have gone thorough. Iwill create a anti bias classroom that will teach children about culture and fairness.“Learning about culture and fairness involves two dimensions: Children’s developmentof a positive culture identity, and their comfortable, respectful interactions with thecultures of others” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p.55). I will support thesedimensions by teaching in a way to increase understanding of differences, to be respectfulof different culture, and to actively challenge bias, stereotyping and all forms ofdiscrimination in school and our communities. By doing this I hope to help children tofeel supported, and connected to their culture. “A culturally consistent learningenvironment requires teachers to learn about the rules, traditions, and expectation of thefamilies in the program” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p.61). I will apply thisknowledge by learning about my student’s families by developing a relationship withthem. This will help me to create an environment that is culturally consistent with thechildren’s experiences.ReferencesDerman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, O. J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children andourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC