Being Sensitive Isn't Hard

The other day I was thinking about how easy it is for people to be culturally insensitive, whether it be because they don't know it, or they do and they don't want to try and stop this bad behavior.  This was thrown into my mind because of a poster I made.  It was for the Spanish club at my university.  The extra posters that I had printed out where then clipped together and given to the Spanish teacher who ran the club.  He saw them later and asked my boss if she made them, and she told him 'No, Monica made them.'  The professor was so happy that I was not using any photos that were culturally insensitive or rude.  Nothing stereotypical either.  Just because, I didn't want to use those photos, and I knew they would not be well received by the professors (or anyone really).

I steered clear of cartoon tacos (with and without mustaches), photos of maracas, sombreros, and other cartoon photos like that that really only to seem appropriate on a middle school poster if appropriate at all.  I just didn't feel that 1) those photos were very symbolic of a university or belonged on a poster for a university club, 2) they were culturally insensitive and stereotypical towards Spanish culture, and 3) I just wanted pictures of flags.

I inserted four photos on the poster.  1) a photo of Spain with the Spanish flag on it, 2) our university's panther mascot, 3) a small banner of flags from Spanish speaking countries, and 4) a small poster that reads 'KEEP CALM AND GO TO SPANISH CLUB'.  These photos I felt were the perfect fit.  I placed the panther head on top of the Spain one, and off to the side so as not to hide the flag or the majority of the country, the banner of flags on the side, and the 'KEEP CALM' poster down at the bottom.  In between all these photos I added in text boxes with the information.  I made the color of each text box either black, yellow, or red to fit with the Spanish flag and complete an overall aesthetic of the poster.

So I was thinking later after my boss told me about her above conversation with the other professor, and about how the professor was happy that I didn't put anything insensitive on the poster: Why is it so hard for other people to be culturally sensitive?  When anyone makes a stereotype or joke towards those of American descent (because let's face it most who are culturally insensitive are American, myself included before I realized I was doing so), they get angry and wish that the person who said/did those things would not to it again.  It's rude and insensitive.  It's hurtful is really what it all comes down to.

So why is it that we do this to other cultures?  Put harmful and hurtful stereotypes out there and not expect that it will be hurtful to someone?  Why do we also quickly rush to defend ourselves?  Why not just admit that it's wrong and hurtful, and try our hardest not to do it again.  It was very easy for me to not use any of those hurtful/stereotypical images on my poster.  And the turn out was wonderful and professional.  So maybe really what I'm asking and wondering: What is causing you to be so insensitive (if you are being so)?  Why are you not taking the few extra seconds to just...not be hurtful?  It's so easy to not hurt others just because they are different.

Those stereotypical images (tacos, maracas, sombrero, etc.) and sayings that are harmful to others are not something to share around.  We should just stop with them.  I know that myself personally, I've used stereotypes and found them funny.  And certain ones are (New Englanders traveling in a snow blizzard for a Dunkins Iced, Canadians are just too polite, etc.) and that's because, to my knowledge, these ones are not harmful.  I know friends and family members who would and have braze a snowstorm for an Iced coffee from Dunkins.  I've read and heard so many stories of Canadians just being very nice and I think it's sweet.  So things like that are fine, because they hurt no one.  However, the ones that talk down someone and they culture, are not fine.  Those are the ones that are harmful.

I think that, we as a world-wide society, must try our hardest to stop spreading the hate.  Just spread peace and love (of course we still need to fight for our rights but do it peacefully).  We need to be more sensitive to those around us.  And not spread such hurtful stereotypes. Think about if it was you people were laughing at harmfully?  You wouldn't like it.  Now stop doing it to others.  It's honestly not that hard.

I'm going to make sure that I stay sensitive, and that I always make the effort to not harm another.  I hope you all will too.

À bientôt!