Recognizing and Addressing Microaggressions in the Classroom and Community��November 18, 2022

Dr. Jessica Sniatecki

Chair and Associate Professor

Department of Healthcare Studies

SUNY Brockport

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Grey’s Anatomy Example

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvrKrzE0nZY

Microaggressions�Sue & Sue (2019)

• “Microaggressions are the everyday slights, put-downs, invalidations, and insults directed to socially devalued group members by well-intentioned people who often are unaware that they have engaged in such biased and harmful behaviors” (Sue et. al, 2019, p. 12)
• Brief interactions that send negative messages to a particular group (women, people of color, LGBT+ people, etc.)
• Can be verbal, nonverbal, behavioral, or visual
• Often very subtle
• May occur without conscious awareness
• Can be intentional or unintentional
• Also conveyed through physical settings that make individuals feel unwelcome, isolate, unsafe, or alienated

Types of Microaggressions�Sue & Sue (2019)

• Microassault
• Blatant attack intended to convey discriminatory, biased message
• Often occur in situations of anonymity, when in presence of others who share feelings/beliefs, or when one loses control
• Microinsult
• Unintentional comments or behaviors that convey insensitivity to race, gender, and/or sexual orientation
• Characterized by insulting hidden message
• Microinvalidation
• Comments or behaviors that exclude, negate, or dismiss the thoughts, feelings, and/or experiences of a particular group (typically unintentional)

Examples of Microaggressions�Sue & Sue (2019)

• Alien in Their Own Land
• Client assumed to be foreign-born
• Ascription of Intelligence
• Based on aspect(s) of identity
• Color Blindness
• Criminality/Assumption of Criminal Status
• Assumed to be dangerous or deviant based on aspect(s) of identity

Examples of Microaggressions Cont.

• Use of Sexist/Heterosexist Language
• Terms that exclude or degrade
• Denial of Individual Racism/Sexism/Heterosexism
• Myth of Meritocracy
• Involves assumptions that race, gender, and/or sexual orientation do not play a role in life successes and failures

Examples of Microaggressions Cont. (3)

• Pathologizing Cultural Values/Communication Styles
• Second Class Citizen
• Occurs when individual receives differential treatment
• Traditional Gender Role Prejudicing and Stereotyping
• Sexual Objectification
• Assumption of Abnormality

Examples of Microaggressions Cont. (4)

• Helplessness
• People with disabilities (PWD)
• Denial of Personal Identity
• Aspect of identity is ignored/denied
• Exoticization
• Assumption of One’s Own Religion as “Normal” (usually Christianity)

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Dilemmas that Arise from Microaggressions�Sue & Sue (2019)

• Clash of Racial Realities
• Invisibility of the Unintentional Expression of Bias/Prejudice
• Psychological impact on victim when perpetrator does not recognize offense
• Perceived Minimal Harm of Microaggressions
• Chronic experiences lead to significant stress/trauma and have negative impact on well-being
• Cumulative effect based on multiple identities
• Catch-22 of Responding
• Negative consequences for victim whether they confront or ignore

Other Common Examples of Microaggressions

• Websites Suggesting More Diversity than Campus/Environment Provides
• Not Learning/Using People’s Preferred Names
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7FixvoKBw
• Asking Students/People to Represent Their Group
• Jokes

What are Some Other Common Microaggressions that People in Your Work Environment Experience?

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What Does this Mean for You?

How can you address microaggressions in your space?

Strategies for Fostering Diversity and Inclusion (Davis, 2009)

• Self-awareness regarding biases and/or stereotypes
• Treat students as individuals
• Monitor the classroom climate
• Recognize the complexity of diversity
• Be cognizant of terminology

Strategies for Fostering Diversity and Inclusion (Davis, 2009)

• Learn about groups other than your own
• Convey confidence in the abilities of all of your students/employees/colleagues
• Don’t try to “protect” any group of people
• Be equitable in acknowledging achievements

Strategies for Fostering Diversity and Inclusion (Davis, 2009)

• Be aware of cultural differences in nonverbal behavior
• Use inclusive language and examples
• Learn to pronounce all names correctly
• Seek opportunities to give students/employees personal validation and attention

Strategies for Fostering Diversity and Inclusion (Davis, 2009)

• Cultivate inclusion in your space
• Recognize your own culture-bound assumptions
• Assign group work and collaborative learning activities

References

• Davis, B.G. (2009). Tools for Teaching. (2^nd ed.). Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA.
• Hayes, P.A. (2013). Connecting Across Cultures. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA
• Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H.A., & Smith, L. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (8th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons.