Microaggression

What’s the big deal about microaggression?

Racial microaggressions are brief. They can be verbal, behavioral, and environmental humiliations, whether intentional or unintentional. They can communicate hostile or negative racial insults to target a person or group.

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In 2014, a study of 405 young adults of color experienced microaggressions. Some have even led to suicidal thoughts.

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There are three types of Microaggression

Microassault:
Verbal or nonverbal attack meant to hurt a victim by name-calling, avoiding someone, or just very purposeful acts of discrimination
Microinsult:
Characterized by communications that convey rudeness or insensitivity. Often discrediting someone’s heritage or identity
Microinvalidation:
Characterized by communications that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts of a person of color.

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Examples include:

“You speak good English.”
Asking an Asian American to help with a Math or Science problem.
A White man or woman clutching their purse or checking their wallet as a Black or Latino approaches or passes.
Television shows & movies that feature predominantly White people, without representation of people of color.
“I believe the most qualified person should get the job.”
Assuming a woman is less intelligent than a man.
Telling a woman to smile more to be more attractive.

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Microaggressions can even be seen in school caused by the teacher. This encourages other students to do the same to classmates. Examples include:

Scheduling tests and project due dates on religious or cultural holidays.
Calling on, engaging and validating one gender, class, or race of students while ignoring other students during class.
Assigning student tasks or roles that reinforce particular gender roles or don’t allow all students flexibility across roles and responses.
Expressing racially charged political opinions in class assuming that the targets of those opinions do not exist in class.
Expecting students of any particular group to ‘represent’ the perspectives of others of their race, gender, etc. in class discussions or debates.

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To find out more on how you handle the situation, click here