I have brought up a couple times to my parents where our family is from and what my ethnic background is. They told me that I am mainly Austrian, German, and Sweedish. So pretty much a mut. My ethnic background I do not feel like it influences who I am at all considering that I found out my ethnic background at the age of like fifteen. I can see where some people's ethnic background could influence who they are if they grew up knowing and living with strong ethnic beliefs.
I feel that the way you are raised and brought up by my parents has a way stronger impact on my life. Keeping things fair and equal was always their number one thing. If they allowed me to do something at a certain age then when my younger sister reached that age they allowed her to do the same. They also wanted us to always stay positive, even through tough times. Religon was another thing, my parents would take us to church every Sunday and we did Sunday school and got confirmed, etc. I feel that the way my parents raised me had a way stronger impact then my ethnic background.
I have red hair and many people think that I am Irish hard core, but in reality I am hardly even one percent Irish. So I think that it is sometimes very hard for a person to tell what another person's ethnic background really is. Honestly, my close friends I do not even know what their ethnic background was and I could probably try to guess it, but get it completely wrong. When people communicate I do not think that the first thing on their mind is, "what is this person's ethnic background?" i never think of that when I am talking to someone so for me it would never interupt or influence my communication with another person.
When is a situation when you would put someone's ethnic background to thought?
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Well, I am planning on being a teacher someday, and I think it will be important for me to consider the ethnic backgrounds of my students. For instance, our communication book offers an example of how one college student felt distressed about how her professors didn't understand that she had to miss school for specific family reasons. So, as a teacher I think ethnic backgrounds are especially important to keep in mind.
ReplyDeleteBut I do agree with you. I don't think that our society places a huge emphasis on ethnic background. I'm sure more of an emphasis is placed on ethnic backgrounds in inner cities, or along the coasts due to immigrant migrations, but in the Midwest I don't think ethnic backgrounds play a significant role in communication.
Good point about how person’s ethnic background will affect you in your future career as a teacher Anthony. As a veterinary, I will also have to consider my client’s ethnic background when communicating with them and choosing a proper treatment method. Different ethnicities will have different connotations for words and nonverbal signs. I will need to think about this when describing my diagnosis in order to make sure my message is clearly understood.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the above statements. We don't seem to pay much attention to other ethnicities, but when becomming a teacher, which I am also going to be, it is important to consider all the different ethnicities and note the different ways people in general will communicate with each other because whether having the same ethnic background or not, we all commnuicate differently. I think we would also think about other people's ethnic backgrounds when we meet new people or travel the world and see what other cultures and ethnicities show.
ReplyDeleteI think that most times ethnicities are overlooked and one doesn't usually sit down and think about it about what sort of things are associated with this person's ethnicity and if it affects the way that the person lives their lives, whether it being their morals, their eating habits, or what clothes they wear. I think a time when I would put someone's ethnicity to thought would be if I were to encounter someone that is different that I may need to watch what I say or do around them.
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