Microaggressions - what you should know

Microaggression examples

• A security guard following a Black person, presuming that they are going to cause damage or steal.
• While walking through the halls of a College building, a security guard approaches a black member of staff to ask if she/he is lost, even though she/he is in a group with other staff members.

Message

• You are a criminal.
• You are going to steal/you are poor, you do not belong.
• You are dangerous.

e.g. when BAME people are objectified or treated as tokens

Microaggression examples

• “What are you? You’re so interesting looking!”
• “she is so exotic”
• “how do you get your hair like that?!”

Message

• You are a perpetual foreigner in your own country.
• Your ethnic/racial identity makes you exotic.
• You are outside of the norm.

e.g. BAME people are assumed to be less intelligent or capable than white people

Microaggression examples

• “You’re so articulate”
• “You speak English so well”

Message

• BAME people are generally not as intelligent as White people.

The notion that the values and communication styles of the dominant/White Culture are ideal/'normal'.

Microaggression examples

• To an East Asian person: “Why are you so quiet? We want to know what you think. Be more verbal.” “Speak up more.”
• Asking a Black person: “Why do you have to be so loud/animated/aggressive? Just calm down.”

Message

• Assimilate to dominant culture.
• Leave your cultural baggage outside.
• There is no room for difference.

e.g. statements that indicate that a White person does not want to or need to acknowledge race

Microaggression examples

• “When I look at you, I don’t see colour.”
• “There is only one race, the human race.”
• “All lives matter!”

Message

• Denying the significance of BAME people’s racial/ethnic experience and history.

e.g. when a woman is treated as a sexual object

Microaggression example

• Commenting on the appearance/attractiveness of a female colleague.

Message

• The most important thing about a woman is the way that she looks.

i.e. when an individual assumes that a woman needs to uphold traditional gender roles

Microaggression examples

• A person asks a woman her age and, upon hearing she is 31, looks quickly at her ring finger.
• An advisor asks a female student if she is planning on having children while in postdoctoral training.
• Labelling an assertive female committee chair/dean as a “b____,” while describing a male counterpart as a “forceful leader.”

Message

• Women should be married during child-bearing ages because that is their primary purpose.
• Women cannot have children and be successful in their studies/career.
• Assertiveness in women is undesirable and women should be submissive.

i.e. when a woman is assumed to be physically or intellectually incompetent, particularly in comparison to men

Microaggression examples

• Female doctor mistaken for someone less qualified.
• “You look too young to work here”.

Message

• Women occupy nurturing positions/couldn’t possibly occupy high status positions.

e.g. when offensive language is used towards or about LGBTQ+ people

Microaggression examples

The use of the word “gay” casually when describing someone as weak.

Message

Being gay is negative/all gay people are weak.

e.g. when LGBTQ+ individuals are treated with disrespect or condemnation because of their sexual orientation or gender presentation

Microaggression example

A person staring at a same-sex couple holding hands

Message

It is not normal to be in a same-sex relationship

e.g. when LGBTQ+ persons are presumed to be oversexualised or sexual deviants

Microaggression example

Assumption that an LGBTQ+ person will automatically be attracted to them

Message

LGBTQ+ people are oversexualised

Microaggression example

• Assuming that someone's partner is of the opposite sex to them
• Assuming there are no LGBTQ+ people in the room e.g. saying 'We never get any LGBTQ+ people coming to our meetings'
• Assuming pronouns
  

Message

• LGTBQ+ people are very rare or not normal
• LGBTQ+ people are all instantly identifiable
  

Microaggression example

Arranging fieldwork or meetings in a country with strong anti-LGBTQ+ laws, without acknowledging possible uncomfortable situation or risk for colleagues (e.g. asking if they are OK with it)

Message

I am not aware of LGBTQ+ issues and people

e.g. when people make presumptions about religious minority groups

Microaggression example

Someone makes a joke about Muslim people being terrorists or Jewish people being cheap.

Message

Stereotypes are true of all people of a religion/religious group.

e.g. when someone judges another religion as being inferior or substandard

Microaggression example

• Placing less/no value on non-Christian holidays or traditions.
• “It’s ridiculous that they are fasting during exam time”.

Message

• Assimilate to dominant culture.
• Leave your cultural baggage outside.
• There is no room for difference.

e.g. when a disabled person is assumed to be physically or intellectually incompetent, particularly in comparison to those without a disability

Microaggression example

• Raising your voice or speaking slowly when addressing a blind student.
• “The way you have overcome your disability is so inspiring”.

Message

• A person with a disability is defined as lesser in all aspects of physical and mental functioning.

e.g. a statement made when bias is denied

Microaggression example

• “I’m not racist. I have several Black friends.”
• “As a woman, I know what you go through as a racial minority.”
• To a Black person: “Are you sure you were being followed in the store? I can’t believe it.”

Message

• I could never be racist because I have Black friends.
• Your racial oppression is no different than my gender oppression. I can’t be a racist. I’m like you.
• Denying the personal experience of individuals who experience bias.

e.g. statements which assert that race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity etc. do not play a role in life successes

Microaggression example

• “I believe the most qualified person should get the job. We need excellence!”
• “Men and women have equal opportunities for achievement.”
• “Gender plays no part in who we hire.”
• “Everyone can succeed in this society, if they work hard enough.”
• “Positive action is racist.”

Message

• The playing field is even, so if Women/BAME/Disabled/LGBTQ+ people cannot make it, the problem is with them.
• Black people are given extra unfair benefits because of their race.

e.g. when a target group member receives differential treatment from the dominant group

Microaggression example

• Black academic mistaken for a service worker.
• Saying “You people…”
• An academic assigns a Black post-doctoral student to escort a visiting scientist of the same race even though there are other non-Black scientists in this person’s specific area of research.
• A Head of Department sends an email to a work colleague describing another individual as a “good female scientist.”
• In class, a lecturer tends to call on male students more frequently than female ones.

Message

• BAME people are servants to White people. They couldn’t possibly occupy high status positions.
• You don’t belong. You are a lesser being.
• People should associate with others of their own race.
• A female academic is good at her job, despite her gender.
• The contributions of female students are less worthy than the contributions of male students.