Saturday, June 11, 2016
The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression
A memory that I have of an incident that I witness my boss being a target of prejudice. I work at the hospital part-time in the department of guest services we help visitors find love ones and anything else around the hospital. One day I was working at a information desk with my boss who is white and gay. A black couple came up to the desk my boss spoke to them and ask them if they needed help finding something they said no. They walked away from the desk and went there way. We did not think anything of this and my boss eventually got off work. I did not get off until later that night. After my boss left, and bout hour later that same black couple came up to the desk and I ask did they need help finding anything and they said yes. After I help them find who they were looking for, they told me thank you and said we did not want to ask the other guy anything because he looked funny and talks to sweet is he gay? I told them that I was not going to comment on this and quickly change the subject. I feel that it was not right for me to discuss my boss identity with no one even though I knew which way he goes its not anybody's business. I also feel that nothing is wrong with him being gay. He does great as a boss and I do not have a problem with him.
To change this incident into an opportunity for greater equity,I feel that everyone in this society should be treated equally regardless of which way that they choose to go. I have no problem with gay people I just know that's not what I want to pursue, but I do not look at others that choose that way any differently. I live in Alabama and since they pass the law on same sex marriages a lot of people have been coming out about who they really are. Gay relationships are normal now and we just have to accept it and move forward.
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Hi Vonecia,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. Everyone in this society should be treated equally. Men and women have feelings as well as preferences. We have a choice to be whatever we choose. No matter the identity, all people should be treated the same. This was a wonderful post :)
Latonya Ratliff
Hello Vonecia,
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of friends and co workers who identify as gay or lesbian and it does not affect their work performance in any way. I think that because of societal norms and media hype sexual identity is often misunderstood and people seem to fear what they don't understand. I think you handled the situation professionally and appropriately. I think that your blog was a good illustration of a micro aggression, thank you for sharing.
Susan
Hi Veronica. I have also witnessed many people make assumptions about an individual's sexuality based on the way they walk or talk or even what they are wearing. I have always tried to encourage people to never judge a person by looks alone. I don't like to engage in those types of conversations either, it only feeds into the negativity. I would have made a comment about not judging people to them while still being professional, but I think your response was good as well. There are just too many negative stereotypes out there about people, and to truly get to know someone you have to be willing to recognize your biases and either challenge them or recognize you don't have to like everyone, but you should be respectful. Thanks for sharing your experience.
ReplyDeleteMyra
Vonecia, It is a shame that people judge others by their sexuality. I too have lesbian and gay friends. These are great individuals. They often struggle with prejudice against them. One of my friends describes it as just like being the minority and this is so. I hope that awareness of this one day impacts the way people feel about other's sexuality.
ReplyDeleteHi Vonecia,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. I agree with you that an individuals personal sexuality is a matter of choice. It is a sin to judge, so even if you don't agree with their choices in life, that is between them and their God and we should not make it our personal crusade to change their way of thinking. Just because you are not in agreement with a person's preferences, does not entitle you mistreat that person. Now that same sex marriage has been legalized, many people are now experiencing prejudice and they realize what African American people have struggled with for many years.Interesting story with very interesting points, thanks for sharing!