Microaggressions as Bullying

*The everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostility, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership (Sue, 2010, p.3). Impact is more important than intent.

Sue, D.W. (Ed.). (2010). Microaggressions and marginality: Manifestation, dynamics, and impact. Hoboken: Wiley.

Such MICROAGGRESSIONS….o repetitive and ongoingo create discomfort, stress, traumao reflect the active manifestation of oppressive world views that create, foster, and

enforce marginalizationo can occur through imposition or deprivationo manifest on a continuum from direct/concrete to symbolic or psychological, and

unintentional, indirect, and subtleo power lies in their invisibility to the perpetrators and oftentimes the recipients

Deliverers….

I do believe that people experience themselves as moral, good, decent, well-intentioned human beings, who may not be conscious of their hidden biases, prejudices, and discriminatory behavior.

I also believe that these same people are guilty of enacting microaggressions and should be held accountable to unlearning and reflecting on how to self-monitor the enactment of microaggressions.

Common microaggressions

Black couple is seated next to the kitchen in a restaurant Speaking loudly or slowly to someone with an accent Assertive female is called a bitch Use of word lame or retard Emphasized friendliness Effeminate man is assumed to be gay Assuming that all Asian students will get good grades School lacks a gay-straight alliance Transgender people are not entitled to the same medical benefits for their needs Woman wearing a stethoscope is assumed to be a nurse Assuming that a body which is socially non-conforming is unhealthy or poor Assuming that people with disabilities are asexual or desexualized Helping a blind person across a street Assuming someone is a lesbian because she plays softball or has short hair

Breaking down MA

Microaggressions

The everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs or insults, whether

intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostility, derogatory, or negative

messages to target persons based solely upon their

marginalized group membership

Microinsult

Unintentional behavioral/verbal remarks that convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity:* i.e., “how did

you get into this school?” Implying racial

quotas

Microassault

Conscious and intentional discriminatory actions: i.e., using racial

epithets, displaying White supremacist symbols, or

swastikas

Microinvalidation

Verbal comments that exclude, negate, or nullify

the psychological thoughts, feelings, or

experiential reality:** i.e., “where are you from?”

underlying thought– you can’t be from the US

Do now…

In groups of 3 discuss the following:

Task 1 Discuss a microaggression that has been enacted against you. Conjecture a dominant story/prejudice that was behind the

microaggression. How did you feel as a result? What was the impact? What do you wish you could tell the person now who perpetuated the

microaggression?

Task 2 Name a microaggression that you enacted against someone else. What dominant story/prejudice was behind the microaggression? How did you think the person felt who received the microaggression? What do you wish you could tell the person now against whom you

enacted the microaggression?

Deliverers arrive at these “normalized” microaggressions because they: Have bought into a stereotype Allow the “norm” to construct beliefs Haven’t unpacked the beliefs or how they are reinforced Fear being shamed or rebuked Don’t necessarily care about the victim or the consequence(s)

Messages may: Invalidate the group identity or experiential reality

of target persons; Demean them on a personal or group level,

communicate that they are lesser human beings; Suggest they do not belong with the majority

group, threaten and intimidate; Relegate them to inferior status and treatment; Force them into a cognitive overload.

Receivers of Microaggressions- Are forced to sustain learned or detached tolerance to buffer one’s self

against the countless microaggressions experienced throughout a typical day (school);

Placate others by representing themselves in incomplete or false ways that they believe will be seen as socially acceptable. Such false fronts or defensive strategies are emotionally and cognitively exhausting and difficult;

Imprints them with emotional (C-PTSD) and sometimes physical scars that can last a lifetime;

Puts them at risk for health-related problems; Can impact work/athletic concentration “FLOW” and problem solving

abilities.

Consequences: Emotional, Psychological and Physical Trauma