Racism was a big stressor for me when I was young. I'm from a small town that didn't have many minority. When I started 1st grade I was sent to an elementary school about 5 miles from my house in the woods. In this elementary school I was the only minority in the whole school. As a 1st grader you are small compare to the 6th graders. So you are not notice alot of times. I overheard some of the older children speak about my race in an awful way and it frighten me. I didn't want to go to school because I was scared, but I wouldn't tell my parents. I didn't have any friends in my classroom and the children were not pleasant to be around. I was so terrify by everyone in the whole school. I really didn't talk to anyone or participate in class. My teacher notice there was something go on, so she set up a conference with my parents. They ask me "what was wrong" and I didn't say anything. They ask me "did someone say something to me". I was so scared I didn't say anything until I got home. I had to repeat 1st grade because I couldn't comprehend any informatin in class. I was so stress about someone harming me because of my race. Till this day I can think back and cry because I know what it feels like for other children to be terrify in school. I don't know how I coped with it. All I can remember is my new 1st grade class and how much I like my teacher. My teacher made all my fears go away because she was so attentive to me and my needs.
The other country I looked up on stressors was Japan. Some of the researcher had several studies on what age group stresses the most. The older children in Japan stress more than younger children. Most older children stress about education, health fitness, and peer relationships. In Japan there is a certain standard to up hold. "It is certainly true as students they must strict conformity demands of behavior and appearances to inhibit individual expression"(Kilburg, 1999)
Kilburg, D. (1999, April). Socialization of emotional adaptation in japan:fundamental concept. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/donkilburg3/1999-socialization-of-emotional-adaptation-in-japan
The other country I looked up on stressors was Japan. Some of the researcher had several studies on what age group stresses the most. The older children in Japan stress more than younger children. Most older children stress about education, health fitness, and peer relationships. In Japan there is a certain standard to up hold. "It is certainly true as students they must strict conformity demands of behavior and appearances to inhibit individual expression"(Kilburg, 1999)
Kilburg, D. (1999, April). Socialization of emotional adaptation in japan:fundamental concept. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/donkilburg3/1999-socialization-of-emotional-adaptation-in-japan
Hello again Ebony,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about your experience. I have also experienced a form of racism indirectly. Just as anything else, it doesn't feel good to feel people are treating you different because of who you are. I am glad that you overcame that and did not become bitter.
Thanks for your insight on Japan. It was new to me. I did not have an idea that image was so important in Japan. I thought we had to deal with enough drama here in America.
Ebb,
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you because you were allowed to go through that difficult time, it shaped you into who you are today. My parents sheltered us from racism as much as they could. My entire childhood was surrounded by people who looked like me. I had no interaction with individuals outside the African American culture-until I my first job at Texas Christian University. It was awful. By sheltering us, I was not equipped to handle situations encountered during my term there. Since then I have learned to look past the color of skin and embrace the character within.