Ana Zapata

485A Reflective Study: Diversity Theory

Introduction
In this paper I will touch on three key experiences that focus on diversity as it pertains to
institutional oppression. I will reflect on experiences from my childhood, adolescence and
adulthood. I will discuss how gender and religion played a big role in shaping my development.
Each experience will be followed by a developmental theory.
Childhood
Growing up as a Jehovahs Witness, kids were not allowed to play with me because
though they couldnt understand it, their parents thought I had the devil in me for I was not yet
baptized and was not Catholic. I had not even a bad bone in me, let alone the devil. I felt
misjudged. Being part of a different religion didnt allow for many friends. I wasnt able to
assist birthday parties and enjoy holidays like Halloween, or even play my viola in the schools
orchestra. I felt so isolated. I didnt see any harm in being part of or doing normal things that
other children my age were allowed to do like listen to particular music, dressing a certain way,
and even crushing on a boy. Being a teenager was hard, being a teenager trying to fit in was
even harder. At the age of fifteen I was forced to choose between my beliefs and practices just to
have a more typical normal childhood. I was beginning to feel faithless.

I had to because I had

much respect for the religion that I didnt want to give them a bad reputation by doing the things
that I saw no harm in doing, but that I wanted to do so much.
Though I still remained unbaptized and didnt follow any other organized religion,
friendships came easier to me, I had many boy crushes, joined and became the drill team
(Colorguard) Captain, and was able to play beautiful music with my viola.

Ana Zapata

I learned
I learned that when a child is believed to have the devil inside her for not being baptized
into the catholic religion, that child will feel misjudged. I learned that when a child doesnt have
many friends and is not allowed to celebrate certain holidays like birthdays and Halloween or
play in the schools orchestra, that child will feel isolated. I learned that when a child is forced to
choose between her beliefs and practices just to have a typical childhood, that child will feel
faithless.
Adolescence
I was forcefully entered into the workforce when I had no other choice but to provide for
my family. Because I had no other choice, I was eager to work and learn and grow
professionally. At nineteen, being a young woman in a male predominant workplace and
climbing up the corporate ladder was no easy task. I felt inferior. You see, no one is ever happy
to have to purchase auto parts, its not your typical retail shop. You are not usually buying car
parts for pleasure as you would clothes, shoes, or purses.
The clientele that usually roams an auto part store is your typical neighborhood
mechanic. I dont want to be judgmental and stereotype but, these men just did not accept a
woman selling auto parts. It was ok for me to ring them up at the register, because women can
be cashiers but it was not ok for me to look up parts for them and more importantly it was not
ok for a woman to hold a management position. That was not the service they wanted from me. I
felt discriminated when Id call the next person in line and they skipped me or waited for the
next available guy saying things like, You are a girl! What can you possibly know about cars?,
and Hey cashier, Im ready now, ring me up!

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Sundays were the worse! Not only did I have to provide an excellent customer service to
men that reeked hangover, but I many times had to endure harassment by these men. One time a
man asked me to go test his battery. So I did. When I got to his car he had already opened his
hood and was sitting in the driver side. As I approached him to give him the battery diagnostics
he flashed his genitals at me. It was disgusting, I felt harassed. Other times, I could hear the
filthy thoughts in their mind and feel their perversely stares, it was repulsive.
I was fortunate to have had an amazing set of coworkers, an anti-bias, gender-sensitive
staff. I thank my manager Ray for believing in me when he could have easily invested his time
and his teachings on any other guy, yet he used his knowledge and poured it on me.
I learned
I learned that when a young woman in a male predominant workforce climbs the
corporate ladder she will feel inferior. I learned that when a woman calls up the next customer in
line at the parts desk and that customer skips her to wait for the next available guy saying things
like, You are a girl! What can you possibly know about cars? and Hey cashier Im ready now,
ring me up! that woman will feel discriminated. I learned that when a woman tests a mans car
battery and in return that man exposes his genitals at her that woman will feel disgusted and
harassed.

Adulthood
I have two very athletic boys, my daughter Victoria had been eagerly waiting for the day
she can be part of a real team just as her brothers. Last summer that day finally came. My
daughter asked to play soccer like her brothers. Because I know most believe that active sports

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like soccer are considered a boy sport as oppose to cheerleading, I decided that I would raise my
kids without that misconception. And what better way to show my boys that girls can do
anything than to coach their sisters team. So I made it a mission
The day came to pick up my team roster and team equipment. I very proudly approached
the coachs tent only to be discriminated. The person running the tent, a man, very rudely asked
if I had a question or if was the team mom as he pointed to the other tent, the one for team
parents. I, again very proudly and not showing how his ignorant mentality really made me feel
said, Im the coach! And Im here for my equipment. I will never forget the face on that man.
He was shocked. I picked up my belongings and march away to meet my players. The faces on
the parents were in awe. I introduced myself as the team coach, said why I was taking the
humongous responsibility of coaching and asked for my volunteers. I did my research, looked
up soccer practice drills, and learned the sport. I felt prepared.
Though my Glitter Dolls, my teams name, didnt have many wins, they had a ton of fun
and what was better yet, I thought my children about gender equality through good
sportsmanship and it felt delightful.
I learned
I learned that when a woman is a soccer coach and approaches the coachs tent, and is
thought to be there as a parent with a question or a team mom, that woman will feel
discriminated. I learned that when a woman soccer coach looks up soccer drills for practices and
learns the sport, that woman coach will feel prepared. I learned that when a woman coaches a
girls soccer team and is able to teach her own children about gender equality in sports, that
woman will feel delightful.

Ana Zapata

Conclusion
Upon reflecting on my experiences Ive learned that religion and gender have greatly
impacted my developmental process. I understand that the experiences lived and learned have
shaped who and what Ive become and have granted me the strength to overcome key issues like
inferiority, discrimination and harassment that arose from diversity as it pertains to institutional
oppression. I have learned to be fair and open-minded. I have learned to value equality and
morality and instill those very same values to my loved ones.