What Are Microaggressions?

Micro-aggressions can be understood as behaviors, actions or words that target marginalized populations or minorities. They are often subtle and unintentional in their use. It can look like when a hispanic surgeon walks into the operating room only to be told that the trash has already been cleared. Or when a supervisor tells a young, black professional to dress extra professional to stand out. It can even manifest as a perceived compliment such as a teacher asking an Asian student to help his peer since he’s “probably good at math.” Whether malicious, ignorant, or complementary, these kind of interactions serve to minimize the experiences of their targets in a prejudiced and derogatory way.

Studies show that micro-aggressions are often committed automatically and unconsciously, leading many to believe that they stem from learned behaviors much in the same vein as implicit biases. Cultural influences and social systems teach and reinforce certain perspectives of different people groups and when exposed to these from an early age, we internalize them and express their messages subconsciously. Consider how Hollywood conventionally depicts Asians in a negative light; mainstream television propagates the stereotype of aggressive, Black women; academic textbooks frame Native American culture as primal and superstitious; or social media hyper sexualizing Latinas while misrepresenting Latinos as suspicious and dangerous.

For individuals who have directly experienced the effects of micro- aggressions, research points to how long term exposure can contribute to symptoms of anxiety and depression while negatively impacting overall psychological well-being. If you have been or continue to be the subject of micro-aggressions, know that feelings of discomfort, anger, shock, or sadness are valid and deserve recognition. While your relationship to the perpetrating party does make a difference in what you might feel or how you may respond, understand that this phenomena is not your sole responsibility to correct as it is indicative of far deeper issues within the larger social system and the imperfect institutions we live in.

Working through it alone can drain your mental and emotional energy and seeking help from a mental health professional can provide the help and support you need to navigate these experiences.