Microaggression Essay

It is interesting to note that, if a white person is lacking whiteness, the society will not point out the flaws of the person. However, if a person of color lacks whiteness, they are automatically put in an imaginary enclosed box, where we (Americans) judge or punish them for not being like us. It could all be because of fear, so our automatic reaction could be to fight back, distance ourselves and start using discriminatory practices against them. As long as Americans hold onto these biases and create this imaginary box for people of color, we are allowing millions of people to be in danger in our name.

I have read and fully understand the article Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life: the Implications for Clinical Practice. However, I must admit the article does not sit well with me and I have learned I have been a microaggressor since my early days; specifically, I have offered microinsults many times over without even realizing it. Through the years, I have thought of myself as one who consciously believes in equal rights for “all”; not just the American people, but people of all races across the entire globe. Granted, I have never

This paper serves as a personal reflection of the implication of racial microaggressions in daily life. Three journal articles and a book chapter are explored in an effort to obtain a greater understanding of the effects of racial microaggressions experienced by people of color and to bring light to how often racial microaggressions are committed by White Americans without notice or accompanied by attempts to explain away the offenses. The sources used provide examples of obvious acts of discrimination as well as subtle microaggressions which are often unconsciously or naively perpetrated and go on to offer recommendations for professional counselors in order to both provide a framework for helping clients of color to cope with encounters of microaggressions and highlight the need of awareness of possible racial microaggressions present during counselor-client interactions which may result in negative impacts on the therapeutic process. Racial microaggressions are broken down into subcategories of microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations, providing a deeper explanation of my own experiences with such discriminatory actions. This ultimately leads to a decision of continuation of training with a necessary focus on increasing mindfulness and field experiences in respect to the subject of racial microaggressive behaviors and attitudes.

In the society we know today, we often believe that it has evolved above racism and all have grown to look past race and see someone only as the person they are. However, in a society where racist messages have institutionalized themselves to the underlying morals of its inhabitants, there is no logic in believing in this archetype of society. Existing since the 1970s when coined by Chester M. Pierce, the term micoaggressions went through serious refining at the hands of Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D., professor of counseling psychology at Colombia University. He has solidified the definition of microaggressions as “…brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that

Many white Americans are living with the fear that they didn't really deserve their success, and that maybe luck and privilege had more to do with it, than brains and hard work. There are numerous reasons for the widespread discrimination at all levels, but the main reason for the existence of discrimination is a privilege to certain groups of people, and widespread social prejudice towards certain groups of people. Differences between people have always existed, but they gain in importance only when are different importance given to certain differences, so it creates privileges. People who are privileged in one society are often not aware of their privilege. It is very easy to be oblivious to the privilege. The problem of discrimination

Like Thind, I know of people who have some white in them and try to use it as a benefit to get the things that they want or need. It’s sad that we as humans have to pretend or try to be something we’re not to get ahead in life by being considered “white”. We as human beings should all be afforded the same rights, dreams, and desires no matter what our skin color is. Skin color should be what you are, but not define you as to who you

The ideology of racial microaggressions has been around since the 1970s, you may not recognize any radicals, you think “I don’t hate black people, so I’m not racist”, still you benefit from discrimination. There are certain privileges and opportunities you have that you do not even realize since you have not been deprived in certain ways. Racial microaggressions are a category of perceived racism. They are more subtle and ambiguous than hostile or explicit languages of racism, such as racial discrimination (Rainey Lecture 2015). Microaggressions are daily verbal, visual, or environmental hostilities and mistreatment that occurs to individual’s culture, gender, and sexual orientation (Golash-Boza 2015). In America, I believe that racism still exists; it may not be as obvious as it may seem. Thus, it may even be more unintentional than it used to be, nevertheless; that is not an excuse to insult someone’s race or culture. I used to frequently get asked the question, “Where are you from?” and my answer would always be “I’m from Fullerton. I’m from California.” but they would always respond with “No, where are you really from?” As if I weren’t really from California. After reading the chapter I learned something called a microaggression.

My study of the academic racial atmosphere and racial microaggressions will commence with the definition of race and racism. Race, as a human classification, has become a complex and toilsome term in society’s vocabulary that impacts every member within it. In a biological sense, race is defined as the grouping of individuals with shared physical characteristics (most often phenotypes). Social constructs also aid in the shaping of the term race by grouping together individuals of similar skin color, physical characteristics and corresponding behavioral traits (Sussman, 2014). As a result of the differences in physical and behavioral characteristics, racial “groups” are formed and begin to thrive as their own entities. As these racial groups

Micro-aggression is described as, “a subtle but offensive but offensive comment or action directed at a minority or other non-dominant group that is often unintentional or unconsciously reinforces a stereotype”. (Dictionary.com). Many people in the world are actually unaware of micro-aggressions, whether it’s actually receiving it or even handing it out. Micro aggression can be really discriminative and can also really do damage to a person. Some universities are actually trying to police these micro aggressive situations. Policing is defined as, “ Archaic regulation and control of the affairs of a community, especially with respect to maintenance of order, law, health, morals, safety, and other matters affecting the public welfare.” (Dictionary.com) Universities are really looking out for these micro aggressions, which really are a danger in society. Honestly

In the article “College students confront subtler forms of bias: slights and snubs”, by Teresa Watanabe and Jason Song, published by Los Angeles Times (November 12,2015) talks about “microaggression” and “victimhood culture”. Microaggression is verbal, nonverbal and environmental slights that communicate hostile towards others by their characteristics (race/beliefs). Watanabe and Song shows us that we have an increase of attention to microaggression in our society today. In my opinion, there has been a dramatic increase of microaggression today. However, it can also be part of victimhood culture.

A design of a racial justice professional development program for the agency is needed due to the diverse community it serves and the racial diversity and micro-aggression issues currently being experienced in the agency. “The term “microaggression,” used in studying cross-cultural communication (Sue et al., 2007), refers to subtle or dismissive messages that express racism, disrespect, or pessimism” (Nemec,

You may not know it but to this day we are still constantly putting down and unintentionally individualising people of colour. You may or may not be guilty of this. But if you are, you are guilty of Racial Microaggression. It is an issue that needs to be stopped, and the only way to stop it is by making it visible which means educating young people about it, and the damage it can cause.

Appraisal of microaggressions refers to the process of evaluating an encounter to determine if it meets their personal criteria of racial discrimination. This occurred after students were presented with a potentially discriminatory event, and they engaged in a process of examining the potential microaggression. When appraising microaggressions, individuals draw on their personal definitions of discrimination and their family/personal beliefs about ethnic identity. Participant responses indicated that there were some instances that meet criteria of a microaggression as stipulated by Sue et al. (2007a), however, participants engaged in a process of analyzing their interactions

Microaggressions to me are physical, mental, and verbal processes which a person has which does harm either intentionally or not to another. They are the tiny actions, thoughts, and words used in everyday experiences derived from the conscious and subconscious. They often times take the form of sly comments. Some people do it unintentionally just because of their nurture process and education. You cannot put total blame on them because of that. The way to go about it would be to educate that person because we have to give them the benefit of the doubt that they may not know the difference between right and wrong.

It’s unbecoming to see that immigrants gained such mobility off of the backs of black workers and, as a result, saw themselves immune to poverty. what really angered me and I found so absurd was Dinesh D’Souza accounts of how “one is allowed to be prejudiced against blacks in the United States because blacks are...statistically dangerous”. Coming from the understanding that humans are inherently good, I can’t see how one can be so blatantly racist to another human being in addition to claiming that the fact that they weren’t prospering was because of their actions, not the color of their skin. This idea gained more footing when Asians, deemed as intelligent, civil, and family oriented, immigrated to the states. These stereotypes were advantageous to the desi population, but further negated the black