A microaggression is a comment or action that negatively targets a marginalized person or group. A microaggression can be intentional or accidental. It is a form of discrimination. Show
People who engage in microaggressions may mean no harm toward the person or group being targeted. They may not even realize that they are making a microaggressive comment or action. Regardless, microaggressions can be very hurtful to the people who experience them. This article looks at what a microaggression is and gives some examples. It also describes how to avoid them and what to do if they happen. Share on PinterestAlthough people may not mean any harm, microaggressions can be stigmatizing and very hurtful. Researchers define microaggressions as “everyday, subtle put-downs directed towards a marginalized group which may be verbal or nonverbal and are typically automatic.” Microaggressions may demean a person’s race, gender, sexual orientation, heritage, age, or health status, for example. Microaggressions convey disparaging messages to people because they belong — or are perceived to belong — to a specific group. The person sending the message may not realize that it is a microaggression. In some cases, a microaggression can be disguised as a compliment. One example is when a person says how articulate a colleague is or how well they speak English, implying that this is somehow unexpected because of the person’s skin color or nationality. Denying a person’s experience is also a form of microaggression. For instance, saying to a transgender person, “I’m a woman, so I understand what you are going through.” In a more specific example, cisgender women may use microaggressions to diminish the experience of transgender women. For example, a cisgender woman may complain that a transgender woman cannot understand what they are experiencing, implying that transgender women are not “real” women. The psychiatrist Dr. Chester M. Pierce first coined the term in the 1970s to describe subtle insults and put-downs that African Americans experience regularly. Psychologists have since expanded its use to include this behavior toward any marginalized group. A marginalized group includes “individuals, groups, or populations outside of ‘mainstream society,’ living at the margins of those in the center of power, of cultural dominance, and economical and social welfare.” Marginalization is not something people choose to experience. Instead, it results from exclusion and discrimination by structures of power and the people within them. A person may experience marginalization due to their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, for example. It is usually clear when someone’s behavior is discriminatory, such as when they use a racial slur. A microaggression, however, may be harder to identify, and the person may not realize that their behavior is harmful. Microaggressions can take several forms. They may be:
Psychologist Dr. Derald Wing Sue and colleagues have defined three classifications of microaggression:
There are many everyday examples of microaggressions. People may target others with microaggressions because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, class, disability, mental health, weight, or age, among other factors. In 2018, Kansas State University conducted a study into workplace microaggressions. The researchers found that 73% of women working in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics had experienced at least one form of sexual objectification. Some other examples of microaggressions include:
These microaggressions are an insidious, pervasive form of racism. Some researchers define them as “brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to People of Color because they belong to a racial minority group.” This form of everyday racism can have a devastating effect on individuals and communities. Often, the dominant person who uses them is unaware of it or unaware of the effect. Examples of racial microaggressions include:
Here, learn more about racial microaggressions. These reflect prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination against a person because of their gender. Usually, they are directed by males toward females. Examples include:
In a 2021 study, surgeons and anesthesiologists reported that the most common sexist microaggressions they experienced at work involved overhearing degrading terms and seeing degrading images of females. Among the 259 female participants in the study, 94% had experienced sexist microaggressions. Those who had were more likely to report burnout, particularly if they were from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. What is sexism? Find out here. This is another type of gender-based microaggression directed by males toward females. These microaggressions reflect an ingrained prejudice toward, dislike of, or contempt for females. Examples include:
Learn more about sexism, including misogyny and other types of hostile sexism. Heterosexism was one called “homophobia.” The older term is inaccurate because it refers to an irrational fear, rather than the systemic and interpersonal discrimination and marginalization that exist. Heterosexist microaggressions are sexuality based. They target people with various sexual orientations and are often carried out by cisgender people. Examples include:
Here, find our LGBTQIA+ hub, with information and resources for support. Microaggressions can be harmful and stressful to the people who experience them. Researchers studying the effects of racial microaggressions on undergraduate college students found that those who experienced them regularly had lower self-esteem. The researchers also discovered that these racist microaggressions were especially harmful in work and educational settings. In another study, researchers found that people who experienced ethnic microaggressions had higher levels of depression and trauma. However, the study could not confirm that the microaggressions directly caused the participants’ depression. One study that looked at 325 “minority” graduate students found that more than 98% had experienced microaggressions. The results showed that microaggressions caused significant distress and increased the risk of depression, regardless of a person’s social status. Microaggressions are a subtle form of prejudice. They are comments or behaviors that harm members of marginalized communities. The people who engage in microaggressions are often unaware of the negative impact. Implicit bias means “unconscious prejudice in favor of or against one person or group.” Microaggressions are often an expression of implicit bias. But if a person understands that their comments or actions are microaggressions and continues to behave in the same way, the prejudice they express is no longer implicit. It is explicit bias. It can be difficult for a person with learned bias to change how they act toward marginalized groups. However, some tips can help people review their beliefs and change their behavior. For example:
The American Psychological Association recommends these strategies to people who face microaggressions:
Bystanders can help by being allies. This might involve speaking up against the microaggression. But always say how the language or behavior made you feel — not how you assume it made the recipient feel, as this can be unintentionally dehumanizing. No one can ever be sure quite how something makes another person feel. Here, learn more about empowering others whose sexual orientation puts them at risk of microaggressions. Microaggressions are actions or comments that express prejudice against a marginalized group or person. They can be very stigmatizing and harmful. Although it can be difficult to admit fault, a person who engages in microaggressions can educate themselves about the impact of harmful language and change their behavior. Read the article in Spanish. Which term best describes the process of sending and receiving verbal and non verbal messages between two or more people?Interpersonal communication is the process of exchange of information, ideas and feelings between two or more people through verbal or non-verbal methods. It often includes face-to-face exchange of information, in a form of voice, facial expressions, body language and gestures.
Which term best describes the process of sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal messages between two or more people quizlet?Which of the following terms best describes the process of sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal messages betweentwo or more people? The interpersonal communication process is the process of sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal messages between two or more people.
Which term best describes the process of sending and receiving?From this view, communication is defined as sending and receiving messages.
Which of the following is the process of converting meaning into messages composed of words and nonverbal signals?Decoding is the process of converting meaning into messages composed of words and nonverbal signals.
|