Page 133 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

The Effects of Microaggressive Stress 107

been conducted on specific behavioral or cognitive strategies employed
by marginalized groups to cope with microaggressive events. Are active
coping strategies better than passive ones (Liang et al., 2007)? What
about early distinctions made between emotion-focused (reducing the
impact of emotions) versus problem-focused (direct action) approaches
to dealing with racism (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984)? Some promising work
has been done in identifying styles of coping skills—problem-solving,
reactive, suppressive, and reflective—in an attempt to answer this question

(Heppner, Cook, Wright, & Johnson, 1995; Yoo & Lee, 2008).
3. Social reassurance and support are powerful forces that act as either
a resource or buffer against microaggressive stress. We have already
indicated how microaggressions are different from stressful life events:
in the latter case, the cause is clear, problem solving and coping can
be goal directed, others will not deny the diffi culties and will be empa-
thetic and generally offer emotional support, if not direct help. This
is not necessarily true for microaggressive stress. Oftentimes, when
a person points out a microaggression, the perpetrators deny it, are
unsympathetic, and do not offer emotional support. In fact, they will
frequently and actively attribute it to the target’s oversensitivity. Our
studies, for example, show that seeking social support and social valida-
tion from one’s group is a powerful means of maintaining one’s sanity
and integrity (Sue, Capodilupo, & Holder, 2008; Sue, Lin, Torino, et al.,
2009). Whether the cultural nutrients come from one’s group members,
family, friends, or allies is unimportant. Social support and reassurance
allows one to not feel isolated and alone, supports and validates a
person’s worldview, and offers possible responses to the invalidating
and insulting events.
4. Preparation and practice in dealing with microaggressions are important
for people of color, women, and LGBTs. It seems incumbent upon
parents to teach their sons and daughters about microaggressions, what
they mean, and how to deal with them. It may be a sad statement, but it
is important for people of color, women, and LGBTs in our current culture
to experience racism, sexism, and heterosexism (Sue, 2003). Racism,
sexism, and heterosexism are realities in the everyday life of these three
marginalized groups. If a member of one of these groups is to survive, he
or she must learn to develop the ability to deal effectively with “put downs”
and insults. Protecting people of color, women, or LGBTs or attempting to

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