Family Influence Interview

This week''s learning resource present the complex ways children receive and internalize the prejudicial views of their families. This assignment provides you the room in which to conduct further exploration of the complex and varied ways families influence their children. While one family might strongly influence their children''s views surrounding religion, social class, country of origin,and race, another family might have strong beliefs related to ability, education, sexual orientation, and body type. As with individuals, each family is unique.

By interviewing a colleague or friend with these questions.

1. In what ways, if any, was your family diverse.

2. Did you have a diverse group of friends growing up? Were there certain friends who did not come to your house or were not allowed to come over?

3. Were you encouraged to play with certain kids and discouraged (or disallowed) to play with others? How was this communicated to you? What messages might this have this communicated to you?

4. What ways did your family communicate their beliefs about various social/cultural/racial groups to you?

5. Did anyone of your family warn you about specific groups of people? What did they say? How did this influence you?

6. do you remember ever witnessing your family being covertly or overtly prejudice towards another person due to their social group membership?

7. Do you remember ever witnessing others treating your family with bias or being in situations that were biased toward your family?

8. When you were a child do you remember your family openly discussing "isms" such as racism, homophobia, sexism, and ableism? Explain these conversations. Were conversations open and comfortable? Were their certain taboo topics? If the conversations did not occur, what messages might you have internalized by their omission?

9. Have your views of different social/cultural/racial groups changed over time? What views have changed and why? How might your original views relate to your family upbringing?

10. What social groups make you feel uncomfortable? What do you think has caused this discomfort? Did/Does your family of origin share your views or discomfort about these social groups?

By interviewing a colleague or friend with these questions? Be sure the person you are interviewing understands that the questions are focused on attitudes, situations, and values related to bias while they were growing up and now.

Then write a brief reflection in response to the experience and what you learned. You are asked to quote your interviewee.