CHAPTER 5

RACIAL, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION MICROAGGRESSIONS

                                         

Microaggressions 

Microaggressions are “brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages” to a target group like people of color, women and Gays

These microaggressions are often subtle in nature and can be manifested in the verbal, nonverbal, visual, or behavioral realm and are often enacted automatically and unconsciously (Solorzano, Ceja, & Yosso, 2000)

Overt vs. Covert Oppression

Overt Racism, Sexism, and Heterosexism

vs.

Covert Racism, Sexism, and Heterosexism

Microassault

Blatant verbal, nonverbal or environmental attack intended to convey discriminatory and biased sentiments (e.g. epithets like “spic” or “faggot”)

Microinsult

Unintentional behaviors or verbal comments that convey rudeness, insensitivity or demean a person’s racial heritage/identity, gender identity, or sexual orientation identity (e.g. Arnold Schwartzenegger calling Democrats, “girly men”)

Microinvalidation

Verbal comments or behaviors that exclude, negate, or dismiss the psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of the target group (e.g. “the most qualified person should get the job”)

Racial MicroaggressionsCommonplace verbal or behavioral indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile,

derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults.

Microinsult(Often Unconscious)

Behavioral/verbal remarks or comments that convey rudeness, insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity.

Microassault(Often Conscious)

Explicit racial derogations characterized primarily by a violent verbal or nonverbal attack meant to hurt the intended victim through name-calling, avoidant behavior or purposeful discriminatory actions

Microinvalidation(Often Unconscious)

Verbal comments or behaviors that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a person of color.

Environmental Microaggressions

(Macro-level) Racial assaults, insults and invalidations which are manifested on systemic and environmental levels.

Categories and Relationship of Racial Microaggressions

Ascription of IntelligenceAssigning a degree of intelligence to a person of color based on their race.Second Class CitizenTreated as a lesser person or group.Pathologizing cultural values/communication stylesNotion that the values and communication styles of people of color are abnormalAssumption of Criminal statusPresumed to be a criminal, dangerous, or deviant based on race.

Alien in Own LandBelief that visible racial/ethnic minority citizens are foreigners.Color BlindnessDenial or pretense that a White person does not see color or race.Myth of MeritocracyStatements which assert that race plays a

minor role in life success. Denial of Individual RacismDenial of personal racism or one’s role in its perpetuation.

Therapeutic Implications of Microaggressions

Clients of color tend to terminate prematurely

Microaggresions my lie at the core of the problem

Therapist must be credible Effective counseling is likely to occur when

there is a strong working alliance