Early this week one of my daughters Emmy made an innocent yet disturbing comment. "Mommy, do you think I look American? I know I don't look Latina like you, I mean I am not tan, or you know look Latina." My response: "Emmy what does American look like?" She looked up and replied "You know like not like you".
This short conversation started me thinking about the messages my children were receiving about culture and diversity. Cultural identity starts from early in life; since preschool young children are figuring out who they are and the rules of their social culture (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).
In her article "Beyond the illusion of diversity: How early childhood teachers can promote social justice," Gloria S. Boutte talks about how children process lessons in diversity. She states "young children are continuously internalizing messages about people who are different than they are—even when parents value diversity" (Boutte, 2008, p. 166). I wondered what messages my children are receiving from me, school, peers and media.
I interviewed my oldest children (9 and 6 year old) about their thoughts on culture & diversity. The results of the interview were, for lack of a better term, disheartening. I cannot believe my own deficit of educating my children on diversity.
Here are some brief pieces of the interviews. Emmy is 9 years old and Gabby is 6 years old.
Me: Emmy what is culture to you?
Emmy: Culture... What Indians and Chinese people do (shaking her head with bollywood dance pose), they follow their religion and follow their culture. Like we... I don't know what we do, but other people do this... I don't know, that's it.
Me: And what it's diversity?
Emmy: Diversity... I think I learned this in fourth grade... I learned this in fourth grade. Hmmm... How everybody is different?Ugh ah I suck at social studies (bangs her head with her hand).
Me: Did you learn about culture and diversity at home?
Emmy: If you call that thing you do over there culture (referring to my praying ritual)... Yeah I guess.
Me: Gabby do you know what culture means?
Gabby: I have no idea what culture means...
Me: Have you learned about culture at school?
Gabby: Nooooo
Me: Have you heard us mention culture at home?
Gabby: Nope.
Me: What about diversity?
Gabby: (shakes her head)
Me: Ok. What is your culture?
Gabby: (lifts shoulder) I don't know (laughs).
These interviews made me wonder about the types of messages and information adults give children. Culture is exotic, culture is something others practice, my customs are just the norm. Culture and diversity are part of social studies class. etc.
This assignment was truly a teachable moment. I learned just as much as the girls. We later talked about differences, languages, being Latina...
Perhaps next time they are asked what culture is they will have a better answer!
Here is a short clip of one of the interviews :
References
Boutte, G.S. (2008). Beyond the illusion of diversity: How early childhood teachers can promote social justice. Social Studies, 99(4), 165–173.
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J.O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Angela,
ReplyDeleteI love the media piece. I think it is okay that your children have a different view about diversity and culture. We think as professional teachers that our children should know certain things that is not always the case. When my eldest son was little he use to think that I was "white" and he was "black". I am very fair skin like my mother, but we identify as Afro-American. But to this day, I have questions as to why my mother identified as Afro-American when she was Jewish and Native American but I suppose this was her choice. She "fit" in everywhere she went in a lot of different ethnic cultures.
Angela
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog and your daughter was so cute in her answering the question. I think that it is good to get children thinking about these issues, and yes we must teach children at an early age about diversity and to respect all people regardless of their differences.