Perception And Cultural Perception

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Perception is a powerful concept in society. For how we view ourselves and others is dependent on the environment surrounding us. Diane Levine, an American author, educator, and advocate known for her work in media literacy and media effects on children, was able to captivate this concept. “When my son was tested for a coveted spot in a private prekindergarten, he was asked, ‘What color is a banana?’ ‘White,’ he answered. ‘A banana isn’t white!’ he was told. Fortunately, my son was not intimidated. He replied: ‘Yes, it is. The peel is yellow, but the banana is white.’ He was accepted”(Levin, 2009).
This is a prime example of perception and cultural assumption. Varying cultures may view the banana as a different color, such as, green, …show more content…

The diversity wheel developed by Marilyn Loden and Judy Rosener will allow me to evaluate certain characteristics. As a case in point, if I were to follow the inner circle, I may be described as a female, Irish and Italian, white, nineteen years old, heterosexual, and I am not disabled. In the outer ring, I am Catholic, no military experience, I am not married, I live in New York, and I am attending SUNY New Paltz to earn a degree. This is essentially who I am, however, it does little to encapsulate the person I am on the inside. According to Allan Johnson, an American writer and public speaker, "Even though the characteristics in the wheel may not tell us who we are as individuals in the privacy of our hearts and souls, they matter to us a great deal because they locate us in relation to other people in society in ways that can have huge consequences”(Johnson, 2006, 15). For this reason, I will use symbols to describe myself and how I believe others view me in order to receive an in-depth …show more content…

A turtle is an animal who has the ability to hide or protect itself inside its shell from threats and outsiders. In other words, the turtle can put up walls when it feels uncomfortable, or it is shy among unknown others. I believe I am viewed as being shy as well. I often get the “You’re so quiet!” from individuals who do not know me. I am quiet in the classroom and I could not place why until I read, Failing at Fairness by the Sadkers. They perfectly placed what I was feeling into words from my own educational

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