Examples Of Microaggressions

Microaggressions can be any commonplace comments that are intended or not, to offend another person. However, one might think individuals would be aware if they inherently said something offensive. Microaggressions are even apparent in standardized testing and academia as test writers and teachers can unintentionally degrade students with a seemingly innocent statement. Standardized tests are allegedly supposed to test student’s knowledge of what they have learned or previously known. The tests also reflect the academic progress of the school to determine the quality of education that the school provides. Standardized tests seem to be an unbiased way of determining skill, but the tests do not take into account student’s home lives, as well

“My dog and you have the same name.” Does this sound hurtful? Did I offend you? Yes, you did offend the person and it is called microaggression. Microaggressions are hurtful statements that can inflict insult. Microaggression is an everyday action that people do without knowing it. However, sometimes comments people say do not seem like microaggression and they do not sound offensive, but they may be insulting to the person. How does an individual deal with microaggression? Microaggression is difficult to deal with depending on how you react to the statement/insult. An individual can respond to microaggression in different forms. One can respond by counting backwards from ten or ignore the comment/ insult.

Racism is still a very prominent issue in America today. Yes, it has improved from the days of slavery, and we do have a black president; but society is nowhere near equal, and that is not acceptable. White Privilege by Paula Rothenberg truly opened my eyes to the extent of the social injustice on African Americans. Just by being white, one is oppressing another race because the privilege and respect that comes with the skin color. Whether intentional or not, the racism is still there and present and that is not acceptable. Being white, I’ve never suffered from the repercussions of racism, but after reading and becoming more aware of the suffering of African American’s, it is significant to write and spread the knowledge about racism and especially implicit racism. Everyone is surrounded by racism on a daily basis, and it’s important to be aware of your actions and the effects they have on society.

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

Intimate partner violence is a widespread and devastating calamity and its progression, perpetuation, severity, causality rest within cultures and society’s ignorance or encouragement of macroaggressions’ patterns. I agree with the readings, macroaggressions matter because such patterns present symptoms and causes of larger structural problems (racism, ageism, sexism et cetera.) These patterns expose the internalized prejudices that lurk beneath the veneer of carefully polished public selves. I argue that Social Work, Feminist, parents, and society at large, work towards making the “invisible” patterns of macroaggressions visible, stigmatized and recognizable. There is nothing glamorous or invisible about being subjected to racism, certainly

It has become common to live in an environment where people think white people are superior to people of color, or that there is only privilege for whites. Other factors that are causes to racism are, peer pressure, upbringing, stereotypes, personal experiences, and unfamiliarity. Many of these examples occur when we live a system that is constructed in a way that supports these beliefs. As far as institutional and individual racism, there is demographic data that explains the division society along the lines of white and people of color (Pearson, 53). In todays society we see many people being discriminated due to these factors, leading to poverty, poverty programs, and income maintenance (Pearson, 88). It is vey common in our society to be structured to follow institutional racism. Without personally having power or being culturally aware that they have power or that they are in a situation of privilege. The result in today society based on racism in America, most Americans naturally

Microaggressions are committed constantly, among numerous people without them realizing it. I must say I am completely guilty of also playing part in this act. These acts are done constantly and no one understands the affects it has on people. Miller and Garran (2008) states, “Racial microaggressions are similar to aversive racism. They are “subtle, stunning, often automatic,” verbal and nonverbal putdowns and social assaults that wound people of color unbeknownst to the perpetrator” (p.97). This is what produces pain and anger inside countless of people. Many individuals need professional help in order to surpass the neglect they have been summited to.

You may not know any bigots, you think “I don’t hate black people, so I’m not racist”, but you benefit from racism. There are certain privileges and opportunities you have that you do not even realize because you have not been deprived in certain ways. Racism, institutional and otherwise, does not always manifest itself in a way that makes it readily identifiable to onlookers, victims, or perpetrators; it is not always the outward aggression typically associated with being a hate crime. Racial microaggressions are a type of perceived racism. They are more subtle and ambiguous than the more hostile or overt expressions of racism, such as racial discrimination (CITE). Microaggressions are everyday verbal, visual, or environmental

I don’t think there is one school district that is not fighting for or have some type of program in place to address the achievement between whites and student of color; but yet the issue doesn’t seem to be going away. As I reflect on the meaning of racism as defined by the authors, they also state that this mistreatment is carried out by societal institutions or people who have been conditioned by society to act, consciously or unconsciously in harmful ways towards people of color. Sadly, I fear that so many of our young people has or is falling prey to the transfer of racism. We (teachers, parents, and the community) have to acknowledge with our kids that race is part of their daily lives; but they do not need to conform and understand how to rise above the stereotypes through encouragement, high expectations, build caring relationships and self-confidence they will

Microaggressions are invalidations, put-downs, slights, and insults that are directed to a socially devalued group and its members. Microaggressions are done by well-intentioned people, though they may be unaware that their behavior is biased and harmful. This is the current definition that encompasses numerous racial groups, as well as various other diverse groups, such as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. The term “microaggression” was originally coined to describe the automatic put-downs that African-Americans face, but it has expanded to include any marginalized population. The exchanges are usually brief, but they send a belittling message to the marginalized, target group.

At some point in life you may have unconsciously offended someone without having the intention of doing so. It is too easy to hurt and insult others without actually being vigilance to your everyday comments and what they can actually mean to a person. When a person unintentionally harms another person by a form of action or verbal comments, you’re defining microaggression. I myself experienced some sort of microaggression, my name is Salvador, when I greet new people with my name they always ask “are you from El Salvador”. I am Mexican American, there is some major culture difference between Salvadorans and Mexicans, so I take that highly offensive when that question is asked.

experiences of microaggressions that occurred across multiple domains including: being made to feel like perpetual foreigners, assumptions about their language use, personality and intelligence, racial jokes, within group discrimination, and microaggressions that addressed multiple identities.

In the interaction between Lisa (the counselor), Wendy (the client), and Lisa's supervisor, there were some microaggressions in the scenario. The first microaggression, is when Lisa stated to Wendy that she could not believe that she got all “As” as a single parent. Lisa probably did not think it was offensive, but Wendy did and her response showed that she was offended by the comment, that a single parent cannot take care of their kids and go to school, and make good grades. The second microaggression, is when Wendy was talking to Lisa about a job she did not get due to racism. Lisa replied by asking Wendy, is there someone with more experience got the job and it was not about racism.

After living in a place like Bend Oregon for 18 years I haven’t ever noticed a difference between blacks and whites. Bend has been said to be “one of the whitest places to live”, yet I never viewed a city by its race. Being racist to me meant that it was the whites who had a problem with the blacks and whites didn’t want anything to do with blacks. I hadn’t actually seen racism in action from anyone here. Now, after watching the film Crash and reading the essays “Blinded by the White: Crime, Race and Denial at Columbine High” written by Tim Wise and “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” written by McIntosh, my understanding of race, diversity, and communications have changed.

According to “Readings for Diversity and Social Justice,” by Adam, etc., racism in modern day U.S continues to take effect on society despite beliefs of living in a “post-racial” America. The book states that, “race thinking developed in the U.S around and through questions of citizenship and resource distribution (pg. 97).” With the intention of preserving white privilege and dominance, came the power of using discrimination in order to create a distinct separation between race, white people and all others, so that the distribution of benefits and resources are clear.