How to combat microaggressions, with Derald Wing Sue, PhD
Aug 30, 2023
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Dr. Derald Wing Sue, PhD discusses the impact of microaggressions on mental and physical health. He explores the definition and types of microaggressions and provides strategies for combatting them, including micro interventions and seeking outside support. The chapter also delves into the challenges of addressing race for white individuals and reflects on societal progress and underlying fears.
Microaggressions are everyday slights that target marginalized groups based on different themes, reinforcing negative stereotypes.
Experiencing microaggressions consistently can have significant internal and external effects on individuals, contributing to disparities in employment, healthcare, and education.
Deep dives
Definition and Impact of Microaggressions
Microaggressions are everyday slights, insults, and invalidations that people of marginalized groups encounter in their interactions with well-intentioned individuals. These subtle acts reflect worldviews of exclusion, superiority, and normality. Microaggressions can target various marginalized groups based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and more, with different themes reinforcing negative stereotypes. Microaggressions can be overt or unconscious, but the unintentional ones tend to have the most harmful effects on mental and physical well-being. Constant exposure to microaggressions reminds individuals they are second-class citizens and triggers past historic traumas, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and lower psychological well-being.
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Microaggressions
Experiencing microaggressions consistently can have significant internal and external effects on individuals. Microaggressions are particularly harmful because they occur throughout the day and accumulate over time. They remind targeted individuals that they do not belong and perpetuate historical injustices. The impacts extend to psychological well-being, physical health, education, and work performance. Microaggressions contribute to disparities in employment, healthcare, and education, causing long-lasting effects. Studies show increased anxiety, depression, decreased problem-solving abilities, and reduced performance in work-related environments among those who experience microaggressions.
Micro Interventions: Strategies to Combat Microaggressions
To address microaggressions, micro interventions have been developed for targets, allies, and bystanders. These interventions aim to make the invisible visible, educate the perpetrator, disarm the microaggression, and seek outside support. Making the microaggression explicit, using humor, or reversing the situation can make the invisible visible and challenge biases. Educating the perpetrator involves separating intent from impact and discussing the consequences of their words or actions. Disarming microaggressions includes responding with an 'ouch' or questioning the statement to create discomfort. Seeking outside support and validation is crucial when power differentials exist, as it provides backup and contributes to a change in societal responses. Micro interventions empower targets, allies, and bystanders, promoting greater self-esteem, critical awareness, and positive actions.
Microaggressions, the indirect, subtle, sometimes unintentional incidents of racism and bias that members of marginalized groups experience every day, can take a large toll on people’s mental and physical health. Dr. Derald Wing Sue, PhD, of Teacher’s College Columbia University, discusses what makes something a microaggression, why microaggressions are so harmful, and what you can do to disarm and neutralize these everyday instances of racism and bias.
