Page 113 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

CHAPTER FIVE

Microaggressive Stress:

Impact on Physical and

Mental Health

“ It gets so tiring, you know. It sucks you dry. People don ’ t trust you. From the
moment I wake up, I know stepping out the door, that it will be the same, day after
day. The bus can be packed, but no one will sit next to you . . . . I guess it may be a good
thing because you always get more room, no one crowds you. You get served last . . .
when they serve you, they have this phony smile and just want to get rid of you . . . . You
have to show more ID to cash a check, you turn on the TV and there you always see
someone like you, being handcuffed and jailed. They look like you and sometimes you
begin to think it is you! You are a plague! You try to hold it in, but sometimes you lose
it. Explaining doesn ’ t help. They don ’ t want to hear. Even when they ask, ‘ Why do
you have a chip on your shoulder? ’ Shit . . . I just walk away now. It doesn ’ t do any
good explaining. ” (African American male)

It is well documented that overt and obvious forms of discrimination (racism,
sexism, and homophobia) detrimentally impact the mental and physical health,
quality of life, self - esteem, and identity of nearly all marginalized groups in
our society (Baker & Fishbein, 1998; Barrett & Logan, 2002; Barry & Grilo,
2003; Brondolo, Rieppi, Kelly, & Gerin, 2003; Cardinu, Maass, Rosabianca, &
Kiesner, 2005; Frederickson & Roberts, 1997; Hamelsky & Lipton, 2006; Herek,
Gillis, & Cogan, 2009; Utsey, Chae, Brown, & Kelly, 2002). The type of stresses

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