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This content is licensed for use by participants in the 2021 AORE Inclusiveness Summit.

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For permission to redistribute this content, please contact Change Works Consulting at info@ChangeWorksLLC.com, www.ChangeWorksLLC.com, or (734) 972-8304.

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Visit www.ChangeWorksLLC.com to request your free ebook on confronting implicit bias, see our programs and services, and schedule a free initial consultation.

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Recognizing and Stopping �Microaggressions

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AORE Inclusiveness Summit

April 14, 2021

Workshop 3-4 PM EDT

Practice 4-5 PM EDT

Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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Welcome, Introduction & Overview

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In the first hour we will cover:

  • Why you should address microaggressions as an outdoor recreation and education leader
  • What microaggressions are and how they affect your participants
  • How you can intervene to create an inclusive outdoor learning and recreation program

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In the second hour we will practice using these skills.

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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Why should I worry �about microaggression?

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Why? Connecting to your purpose

Genius-level Talent + Passion = Purpose.

Purpose enables us to help: 1. Ourselves 2. Family 3. Community 4. Industry

The Importance of “Passion & Community”

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Photo: uwc-usa.org

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What is a microaggression anyway?

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What is a microaggression?

mi·cro·ag·gres·sion

/ˌmīkrōəˈɡreSHən/

a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority.

Source: Oxford Languages

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What types of microaggressions have you seen or experienced?

Put them in the chat

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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Some actions leave people feeling excluded

Carlos Andrés Gómez �"Where are You Really From?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=701a3ZgT1EE

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Examples of Microaggressions

Making difference hypervisible

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https://itooamharvard.tumblr.com/image/78254934175

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Examples of Microaggressions

Making difference invisible

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https://itooamharvard.tumblr.com/image/78255386997

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Examples of Microaggressions

Denying someone’s identity

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https://itooamharvard.tumblr.com/image/78254823658

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Examples of Microaggressions

Reinforcing stereotypes

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https://itooamharvard.tumblr.com/image/78255111675

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Examples of Microaggressions

Describing someone as “countering” stereotypes

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https://itooamharvard.tumblr.com/image/78254950454

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Examples of Microaggressions

Demeaning language

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https://www.plu.edu/dcenter/my-language-my-choice/

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Examples of Microaggressions

Nonverbal �microaggressions

  • “Clutching purse”
  • Avoiding eye contact
  • Excessive attention

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHCqz-J51IU

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Examples of Microaggressions

Unwanted Touching

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https://itooamharvard.tumblr.com/image/78254965508

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-biden-women-presidential-campaign-20190330-story.html

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Examples of Microaggressions

Misgendering/�Deadnaming

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https://throughteenlenses.com/opinion-asking-sharing-gender-pronouns-is-important-for-inclusivity/

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How do I respond?

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General Principles

  • Focus on the impact of the behavior, �not the intent of the person
  • Avoid shaming or humiliating people.
  • “Be an ally, not a knight”
  • Check in with people affected
    • Includes both the person who said/did the thing and people potentially impacted by it
  • Bonus points for explaining why
  • Practice, practice, practice
    • Practice saying the words out loud. Just thinking about what you would say isn’t enough.

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What can I do?

To change behavior, make a statement.

To change belief, ask a question or tell a story.

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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To change behavior, make a statement

  • Great for immediate response
  • Works well in group setting
  • Good to interrupt behavior to prevent further harm

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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Sample statement tactics

  • Name the behavior, name the change
    • “That really singles out _____, let’s not put anyone under the microscope.”
    • “I noticed we keep talking over _____. Let’s let everyone have a chance to chime in.”
  • “I” statements
    • “I’m not comfortable with that”
    • “I don’t want to hear jokes like that.”
  • Use shared identity/goals
    • “We’re all ______ (climbers, paddlers, etc.), we don’t do that.”
    • “We want everyone to feel welcome here. Let’s keep things positive.”

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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To change belief, ask a question...

  • Good for when you have time for meaningful interaction
  • Often best in 1:1 situation
  • Goal is to listen to their perspective, invite them to consider other perspectives
  • Should be a real question
    • Not a suggestion with an uptick (“Don’t you think you should…?”)
    • Not an interrogation, (“Tell me why you did that!”)
    • Not “How could you be so ignorant as to say that?”

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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Sample question tactics

  • Explore intent
    • “I’m curious. What was your intention when you said that?”
  • Explore Impact
    • “What sort of impact do you think your comment might have?”
    • “How might someone else have reacted to your comment?”
  • Explore feelings
    • “What is making you the most fearful, nervous, uncomfortable or worried?”
  • Explore personal stories
    • “Is there a personal experience you’ve had that leads you to this perspective?”

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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… or tell a story

  • Tell a story about a person, ideally yourself or someone you know
  • Ideally have a few stories you’ve thought about:
    • A progress story about how things can get better
    • A “work to do” story about how things aren’t fixed yet
    • Stories about different identity groups (e.g. people of color, LGBTQ, neurodiversity)

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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Comments & questions �from the chat

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Time to practice

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Preparing for the practice session

  • You can find sample scenarios at http://bit.ly/AORE-scenarios, or suggest your own from your own experience, scenarios in the presentation, or scenarios that came up in the chat.
  • Choose someone to be timekeeper so that everyone gets a chance to practice responding to a scenario.
  • Take turns role playing the scenarios. In each scenario, someone should read the scenario out loud and play the role of the person who committed the microaggression.
  • Someone else should play the role of the intervenor. You can use one of the scripts from the presentation or try your own intervention.
  • After the scenario, at least two people observing the role play should share one thing they liked about how the responder intervened and one thing they would suggest doing differently.

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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Additional resources

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Keep learning!

Put your email in the chat and we’ll send you:

  • This slide deck
  • A bonus handout on additional conversational intervention techniques
  • A free ebook on confronting implicit bias

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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Additional Resources

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression

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XI. Thank you!

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Chuck Warpehoski�Chuck@ChangeWorksLLC.com�734-972-8304

Marv Fox Jr.�marvfoxjr9@gmail.com�(313) 727-9435

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Slides at bit.ly/AORE-microaggression