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Some people who, for whatever reason, are not completely accepted by society experience various types of pressure, such as microaggressions. Microaggressions can be defined as slights and subtle hostilities based on race, gender, sexuality, and other characteristics that people cannot control (Cho viii). Although microaggressions may seem harmless due to their ambiguity, they are typically offensive to the receiver (Williams 3). While microaggressions do offense the receiver, it is debatable whether or not they are truly intended to insult or harm.
First of all, in order to understand the real intentions behind microaggressions, it may be useful to look at their nature. Microaggressions were first defined in the 1960s by Chester Pierse, an African American psychiatrist (Williams 3). At first, microaggressions were used to express racism and were described to be done “in an automatic, preconscious, or unconscious fashion” (Williams 3). For example, in 1976, Ronald Reagan used the term “welfare queen” to describe a woman who was continuously committing fraud (An article from Slate magazine). Although it was not directly said, it was implied that welfare was mostly related to black Americans despite the welfare queen herself being mixed race (An article from Slate magazine). These days microaggressions are used in a broad range of social groups surrounded by stigma or power imbalance (Williams 3). From the beginning, microaggressions were used against social minorities and are still used in the same way but to a wider extent.
Although microaggressions are thought to be offensive statements, they can be expressed in various ways. In relation to race, microaggressions can take the form of associating a certain race with certain qualities, whether positively or negatively (Williams 4). For example, saying that “Asians are good at math” or “Young Black men are dangerous” when neither of those qualities should nor can be characterized by race. Microaggressions can also include negligence, actions, or inactions towards social minorities (Williams 4). For example, crossing the street to avoid walking past a certain person or choosing not to help someone in distress. Microaggressions are caused by stigma and can lead to discrimination. For example, the connection between welfare and people of color made by the news that increased negative characterizations of African Americans (An article from Slate magazine). Microaggressions are seen in statements and actions caused by social stereotypes and biases towards other people.
While microaggressions can be expressed in statements or actions, they typically do not cause apparent consequences. The term microaggression is meant to contrast macroaggression, which refers to acts that can cause physical harm, such as losing one’s job (Williams 6). With that being said, microaggressions may be difficult to identify, even in comparison to saying something that can be considered to be in bad taste. For instance, White people may overlook microaggressions related to race because they do not experience such microaggressions themselves and typically do not have to ensure personal safety and well-being (Williams 6). Moreover, people of color are more likely to recognize an act of racism than White people (Friedlaender 10). Because microaggressions typically do not have evident or immediate consequences, they are easily overlooked by most people.
Microaggression can be persistent because their receivers typically do not challenge those who express the aggressions. This is due to the power differential when the targets of microaggressions may experience social harm if they stand up for themselves (Williams 5). For example, people of color often have to question whether a certain remark or action was racially motivated to offend them, so they would rather endure it than face more aggression (Friedlaender 8). Because microaggressions may be hard to interpret, the receivers’ reactions may be considered inappropriate or socially unacceptable (Friedlaender 8). While social majorities do not recognize microaggressions and the minorities have to surpass them, it creates more social gaps and discrimination.
Even though microaggressions may not be indicated by immediate consequences, they can cause harm in the long term. Microaggressions can cause negative emotional and behavioral responses (Friedlaender 7). For example, if the ideas of a female student are constantly overlooked in comparison to the ideas of a male student due to their gender, the female student may start experiencing decreased self-esteem (Friedlaender 7). Microaggressions continuously experienced throughout life can lead to anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, and other mental health issues (Friedlaender 8). Microaggressions that happen continuously can have negative consequences on health and life in general.
Although microaggressions may be difficult to identify or interpret, they are different from typical social faux pas. Whether intended or not, microaggressions are meant to strengthen power differential between social groups (Williams 6). For example, unlike faux pas, microaggressions can be used to reinforce social stereotypes regarding male supremacy when women in professional academic fields are called “Mrs.” rather than “Dr.” or “Professor” (Cho 133). Microaggressions can negatively affect a person’s social status by enforcing stereotypes and strengthening inequality.
Microaggressions may be considered more than just individual infractions because they can have a wide range of long-term consequences to society as a whole. Microaggressions promote social inequalities and hierarchies which benefit some people at the expense of others (Williams 4). Moreover, inequality in such cases may seem to be morally and intellectually justified because of false stereotypes accepted by social majorities (Williams 4). For example, in the 1970s, due to the news’ connection of negative perception of welfare and African American people, White women were more privileged and valued than African American women (An article from Slate magazine). In the history of Black women, microaggressions relate to the assumption of inferiority, treatment as second-class workers, sexist and racist humor, and invisibility (Cho 36). Microaggressions make it harder to promote equality between social groups and reinforce the environment in which some people have to live under the pressure of others based on external characteristics that neither can control.
To summarize, even though microaggression may not always be conscious, they are harmful to the target in the long term. Microaggressions originated in relation to racism and have expanded these days despite still being often overlooked. They are used towards social minorities in everyday life, at school, or workplace. Microaggressions can be expressed in various ways and be experienced throughout a long period of life without producing immediate consequences. By causing mental health problems to individuals, microaggressions can lead to split in society and social disparities. Microaggressions are not the same as faux pas or individual infractions because they are intended to reinforce power differential and inequality and can have long-term consequences to different groups of people. People have to be more aware of how their words and actions can affect others, especially those influenced by social stereotypes.
Works Cited
An article from Slate magazine. Course note.
Cho, Christine, et al, editors. Exploring the Toxicity of Lateral Violence and Microaggressions. Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.
Friedlaender, Christina. “On Microaggressions: Cumulative Harm and Individual Responsibility.” Hypatia, vol. 33, no. 1, 2018, pp. 5-21.
Williams, Monnica. “Microaggressions: Clarification, Evidence, and Impact.” Perspectives on Psychological Science, vol. 15, no. 1, 2019, pp. 3-26.
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