06/14/2022
Let’s talk about microaggressions!
****CW: Homophobic and transphobic language
WHAT IS A MICROAGGRESSION?
A microaggression is the everyday encounter of subtle discrimination that people of various marginalized groups experience throughout their lives. The term was coined in the 1970’s by Harvard Professor Chester M. Pierce to describe the slights and insults he had witnessed against black people. Professor Derald W. Sue of Columbia University expanded on this, defining microaggressions as, “The everyday slights, indignities, put downs and insults that people of color, women, LGBT populations or those who are marginalized experiences in their day-to-day interactions with people.”
Since it is Pride month we’d like to focus on and highlight microaggressions that
affect LGBTQIA+ folx from both inside (internalized homophobia) and outside (homophobia) the community, and ways in which we can learn to recognize them when we see them, actively dismantle our participation in using them, and help to educate others how to do the same.
MICRO-INVALIDATION
Micro-invalidations are communications that negate or disregard the thoughts, feelings, and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals, from both inside and outside the q***r community.
• “You’re being too sensitive.”
• “You’re just confused.”
• “It’s just a phase.”
• “You’re not a real man.”
• “You’re not a real woman.”
• “You don’t need to flaunt it.”
• “Why would you make things harder for yourself?”
• “I’m not transphobic, but…”
• “You can do whatever you want, but I don’t want to know about it”
• “How can you be q***r if you’ve never had s*x with a member of the same s*x?”
• “It’s just a preference.”
• “I don’t mind that you’re q***r, but that doesn’t need to be your whole personality.”
MICRO-ASSAULT
Micro-assaults are explicitly derogatory comments and physical actions toward LGBTQIA+ individuals.
• Hate speech
• Avoidant behavior
• Moving away from
• Leaving out of group/work discussions
• Laughing and pointing
• Negative representations
• Spreading the idea that gay men are predatory
• Spreading the idea that trans people are predatory
• Spreading the idea that q***r women are s*x objects for heteros*xual men
• Invalidating someone's s*xual identity
• Invalidating someone's s*xual identity
MICRO-INSULT
Micro-insults are subtle snubs that convey a hidden insult to the recipient. Often times with micro-insults there is an assumption from both heteros*xual or q***r persons that they are entitled to details about private experiences and relationship details. This highlights the unconscious view of q***r folx as unnatural or abnormal.
• “You don’t look gay.”
• “You don’t sound gay.”
• “It can’t be real s*x unless it’s with the ‘opposite’ s*x.”
• “Oh, do I have to worry about you hitting on me now?”
• “Being bis*xual is greedy, why can’t you just decide?”
• “How did you turn gay?”
• “Which one of you is the guy?”
• “You’re too gay.”
• “Wow, I never would’ve known you were born a man!”
• “Oh, so which parts do you have?”
• “Oh, I could tell you were a le***an from your haircut!”
HOW TO COMBAT THEM
Intervene!
First, examine your own words and actions. Have you said or thought any of the same things listed as examples? Reflect on how you show up, both with how you speak to and treat others. Intervene with yourself, consider ways in which you might be contributing to microaggressions. Becoming conscious of your own role in perpetuating microaggressions will help equip you to recognize them, and call them out when you see others engaging in them.
• Say that you find the perpetrator's attitude or behavior a problem and state the reason why.
Here are a few ways that you can intervene if you witness a microaggression against someone:
• Ask them, “Are you okay? I noticed what they said was inappropriate, is there anything I can do?”
• Say that you find the perpetrator's attitude or behavior a problem and state the reason why.
• Try to help the perpetrator understand what they did, for example, “I’m not sure if you know, but what you said is homophobic/transphobic because X”
• If you see an ongoing situation, sit or stand with the victim and start up a conversation, effectively putting yourself between them and the perpetrator.
• Call out “jokes” that belittle others and their humanity.
IT’S UP TO YOU!
Remember the power you have!
It isn’t about your intention, it is about your impact.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17516773/
https://www.vox.com/2015/2/16/8031073/what-are-microaggressions
https://psychologybenefits.org/2014/02/07/anti-lgbt-microaggressions/
https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity/students/microaggressions/what-are-microaggressions
Infinite Ingredient x Deviant Minds
