Page 106 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

80 the microaggression process model

Phase Five — Consequences and Impact
What consequences do microaggressions have on recipients? It is diffi cult to
clearly separate out this phase from the others in answering this question,
because the “ impact ” on the psyche of marginalized groups makes itself felt
throughout the entire appraisal and reaction process. Indeed, one could make
a strong case that the microaggressive process from beginning to end (Incident,
Perception, Immediate Response, and Interpretation) is interwoven with
short - and long - term consequences. However, the focus of the consequence
phase attempts to specifi cally describe the psychological effects of microaggres-
sions on the recipient. It covers more thoroughly how the microaggression
impacted the individual ’ s behavioral patterns, coping strategies, cognitive
reasoning, psychological well - being, and worldview over time. There are four
consequences that seem especially relevant for us to understand.

Powerlessness
Again, the sense of powerlessness is the result of an inability to control the
definition of reality (racial, gender, or sexual orientation) and the catch - 22

dilemma that is evoked when attempts are made. When a microaggression
occurs, the response — be it confronting the person, getting upset, or question-
ing/challenging the motives — leads perpetrators or others to label the target
as hypersensitive or angry. The belief that one has little effect or control over
a situation leads to feelings of impotence. Through repeated experiences of
being made to feel helpless and ineffective in determining one ’ s own fate, the
locus of control becomes externalized (Sue & Sue, 2008). Common comments
are “ It ’ s no use trying, ” “ There ’ s nothing I can do about it, ” and “ You don ’ t want

to rock the boat. ” One Black participant stated the dilemma quite succinctly:
“ If you were to address every microaggression, it ’ s like all, ‘ Oh, there you go again,
you people ’ . . . so it ’ s like, you sort of are conditioned to not say anything, thereby
becoming oblivious to it. Not oblivious but, you know — if you ’ re hypersensitive about

it then they ’ re like, ‘ See, we told you. ’ ” Another stated, “ It is how your context
gets translated through someone else ’ s lens. I think that ’ s another way that the very

essence of your life is up for definition, based on any particular lens that a White person
is wearing on any particular day in any particular moment. ”
Invisibility
Invisibility takes many forms. Our opening chapter vignette indicates how
women are frequently objectified and their accomplishments and other

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