Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggressions happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggressions or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggressions?

 

My friend and I went to eat lunch together this week. She came in complaining about a new bright orange uniform shirt that all office employees were told that they had to wear on Friday. She stated that none of her co-workers liked the shirts.  Her boss had picked the shirts out with no input from the office workers. While they were complaining to their boss about the shirt, a worker that did construction on the streets came in and my friend’s boss commented to the worker, laughing “They look like they don’t work in an office, but outside with you all.”  The boss and the office staff workers laughed.

This was a microinsult. My friend’s boss implied that working in an office was more important or greater than construction work.

I was hurt for the construction worker, because no one seemed to recognize that they were belittling the construction workers clothes. Mr. C by laughing and the office staff by laughing along with him when he said it.

 

In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effect of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people.

I am now more aware of what these –isms have on people. Not just the targets but those who are the participants in discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotyping. The effects on the giver and receiver are very destructive. The part I found most disturbing is that most individuals are not even aware that they are participating in microaggression.