Understanding Microaggressions: Impact on Cultural Diversity
School
University of Texas**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
SOC 301
Subject
Sociology
Date
Dec 11, 2024
Pages
6
Uploaded by EarlExploration12907
1Week Three Analytic MemoCameron LewisSOC350 Cultural Diversity 17 Nov 2024
2Analytical Memo: Understanding Microaggressions as Systemic PhenomenaMicroaggressions are little, often unintentional, ways of bias that show up in the interactions between people. Unlike social faux pas, which may be a product of ignorance or awkwardness, the ways in which we hurt each other are deeply embedded in broader systems of oppression. While these seemingly minor actions or comments don’t seem like much, they matter because they contribute to reinforcing societal inequities that impact on the mental, emotional, and social wellbeing of marginalised groups. In this analytical memo, we explore the difference between microaggressions and ordinary social gaffes, and the fact that these are more than isolated interpersonal transgressions.Microaggressions: More than Social Faux PasMicroaggressions are, at their core, cumulative and systemic. A social faux pas might be a harmless slip of the tongue or a culturally inappropriate remark, but microaggressions are rooted in historical and cultural power dynamics. Sue et al. (2007) categorize microaggressions into three types: overt insults (microassaults), subtle denigrations (microinsults) and negation of experiences of marginalized individuals (microinvalidations). These acts are not random acts and are common things that reflect societal norms that perpetuate inequality.For example, a person might see a compliment by saying, "You’re so articulate for a Black person." But it says something implicit that implies a stereotype that Black people are stupid. Microaggressions have power because, unlike a social faux pas, which may lack context or intent, they can be traced to the structural inequalities that favor one group over another. Allegedly, race, gender, and class are embedded in a matrix of domination so that systems of race, gender, and class interlock to create and sustain these inequalities (Collins,
32000). As mechanisms of reaffirming the subordinate status of marginalized groups, microaggressions perform a function in this context: upholding these systems.Systemic Implications of MicroaggressionsMicroaggressions are not one-off incidents but a product of a larger system of structural oppression. Institutional ethnography by Dorothy Smith stresses that the social norms and institutional structures shape individual’s behaviour in a way that marginalize some group (Smith, 2003, p. 5). For example, at work microaggressions can create a hostile environment for women or people of color for people who perceive their actions as benign. Nadal et al. (2014) research shows that exposure to microaggressions repeated exposes marginalized populations to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression especially in professional settings.Additionally, microaggressions make it normal to discriminate, by making it part of everyday interactions. Huber and Solorzano (2015) provide a study about racial microaggressions in education, which show how these behaviors work sublty to undermine the academic potential of students of color. For example, faculty would be surprised when a student of color is successful and would perpetuate a narrative that such success is exceptional rather than expected. While seemingly insignificant, these interactions add up to create a perception of self worth and belonging.Intersectionality and the Multiplicative Effect of MicroaggressionsMicroaggressions can attack on intersecting parts of a person’s identity including race, gender, class and sexuality. According to Hill Collins (2000), the matrix of domination is made up of intersecting oppressions and individuals experience life in it differently. For instance, a Black woman may experience microaggressions based on race and gender, like
4being characterized as too aggressive in a meeting, perpetuating the 'angry Black woman' trope. Through this intersectional lens, it is clear that microaggressions occur not in isolation, but instead compound the marginalization of individuals with multiple minority identities.Moreover, Lareau’s (1987) work on cultural capital undermines how microaggressions extend the existing system of inequality. For example, teachers’ subtle biases in educational settings may cause them to undervalue the cultural knowledge and workof working-class or minority students. These microaggressions erode student confidence and put barriers in their way to opportunities taken for granted by privileged groups (Lareau, 1987).The Role of Social Perception and Civic EngagementTo understand microaggressions, it takes a socially perceptive and intercultural competence. These skills are durable enough that they let people spot and eliminate biases in themselves and other people. So, as Sue et al. (2019) describe, microaggressions are not just the consequences of ignorance, but ignorance around structural inequities. These competencies can be developed to enable people to navigate more effective, more inclusive environments.Microaggressions are more than individual reflection involving systemic change from a civic engagement perspective. Training programs on implicit bias and open discussions around diversity and inclusion, must be conducted in institutions. For example, Harvard University's Project Implicit has demonstrated that educating people about unconscious biases is effective in reducing microaggressions. Institutions can mitigate the harmful impactsof these behaviors by creating a culture of awareness and accountability.Broader Societal Impacts of Microaggressions
5Microaggressions ripple outward if not just the impact to the individual but to communities and structures of the society. Repeated microaggressions are harmful to the marginalized for they leave these people feeling alienated and excluded. The consequences ofthese experiences are tangible: lower job satisfaction, lower academic performance, and mental health outcomes (Nadal et al., 2014). Microaggressions maintain inequality on a social level because of their normalizing of discriminatory attitudes and behaviors.This issue is signaled to be the need to change social norms in recent studies. A 2023 article in The New York Times by Miller (2023) discusses how public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives have brought the conversation about the negative impact of microaggressions into the public sphere. These efforts demonstrate the importance of collective action in addressing the systemic underpinnings of these behaviors.ConclusionRather than being simply social faux pas, microaggressions are systemic oppression inaction, no more a harmless social faux pas than gun ownership or certain companies’ penchant for non-union employees. They stand on grounded historical and structural inequalities and, in seemingly mini interactions of peoples and groups of people, are quick to marginalize. When viewed through scholars such as Collins, Smith, and Lareau, the behaviors that lead to microaggressions reveal that microaggressions should be addressed not only at the individual level but also at the systemic level. Social perceptiveness and intercultural competence can be cultivated through institutional reforms to foster a more equitable and inclusive society. While unpacking the nuances of microaggression, it is important that we avoid viewing them in isolation and recognize their ability to maintain a system of inequities.
6ReferencesCampbell, M. (2003). Dorothy Smith and knowing the world we live in. The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 30(1), 3-22.Collins, P. H. (2000). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. Routledge.Lareau, A. (1987). Social class differences in family-school relationships: The importance of cultural capital. Sociology of Education, 60(2), pp. 74–76.Miller, J. (2023, May 13). Why Some Companies Are Saying ‘Diversity and Belonging’ Instead of ‘Diversity and Inclusion’. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/13/business/diversity-equity-inclusion-belonging.htmlNadal, K. L., Wong, Y., Griffin, K. E., Davidoff, K., & Sriken, J. (2014). The adverse impact of racial microaggressions on college students' self-esteem. Journal of college studentdevelopment, 55(5), 461-474.Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L.,& Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical practice. American Psychologist, 62(4), 271–286.