The term “microaggressions” was coined by Dr. Chester Pierce, a senior advisor and influential force on Sesame Street. Microaggressions are considered subtle and non-direct forms of discrimination, that could be verbal or behavioral, towards an individual from a minority group (ethnic, racial, sexual orientation, religious, gender, etc.). Sometimes this form of discrimination is hard to identify due to its subtlety. However, one’s mental health can be significantly affected by microaggressions.
Let’s start with recognizing microaggressions.
Microaggressions can be:
- Generalizations based on an implicit bias
- Implying that someone is less-than
- Believing a negative stereotype and making an assumption about someone
How to address it:
- Experiencing a microaggression can consume a lot of emotional labor; you may want to process on your own.
- Or, you may want to confront the person and explain how it made you feel.
- Ask follow-up questions and show curiosity, rather than attacking them.
- Talk to your therapist and unpack the impacts they have had on you.
None of us are immune from absorbing biases, but we can practice awareness and mindfulness to help prevent microaggressions.