After a discussing what we had been learning this week with my husband, he suggested I watch this week's episode of a television show called "Last Man Standing". For those of you who are not familiar with this program, it is a comedy about a white middle aged man and his wife and three daughters. This episode centered around the wife's attempt to befriend a new couple in the neighborhood who happen to be black. The wife was overly conscious of using any statements of microaggression and therefore ended up making all kinds of stereotypical references. She tried to make light of her statements by saying "it's not what you are thinking" and the black husband would say "oh, just what am I thinking?" The white woman's husband saw what a fool she was making of herself and in so many words told her to lighten up and stop over adjusting.
The episode pointed out all the prejudgements people make based on race without knowing anything about people as individuals. It showed how foolish and ignorant we are when we do that. As Dr Sue pointed out we need to have accurate exchanges of information about one another rather than operating on stereotypical prejudgements and we need to interact with one another on equal ground.
Suzanne,
ReplyDeleteI like how you found a reference in a common TV show of microaggressions. It is true that the more awareness and attention you spend trying to not say a particular thing the more likely you are to actually deliver that insult. Great points!
Suzanne,
ReplyDeleteI think TIm Allen does a great job on that show of continually righting many of the "wrongs," that we find ourselves tripping over. I will try and see if I can watch the show by streaming it as you have perked my interests. I like how you chose a show.... to demonstrate microaggressions.!
I felt that Dr. Sue did an excellent job of communicating how microaggressions often unintentional are hurtful.
As always I enjoyed reading your blog.
Millie
What a great idea to use a tv show, and a comedy show at that, to observe the effects of microaggresions. By laughing together, we make a connection with each other and hopefully, in this case, eliminate our own abuse of miroaggressions.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne,
ReplyDeleteGood post. I think comedy television shows are filled with microaggressions. The shows are filled with comments and behaviors that portray the attitudes and stereotypes of others. I know the shows are meant to be funny, but I often find the humor offensive. Like the woman in the tv show, I know I have said things unintentionally before and then tried to "fix" it. I ended up only making things worse. It is very important to be aware of how our comments, attitudes, and behaviors may impact others.