Page 134 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

108 microaggressive stress

insulate them from such forms of prejudice and discrimination will lead
to a false sense of security and consequently not allow them to develop
the necessary survival tools. Teaching them how to recognize micro-
aggressions reduces confusion and uncertainty, allows them to practice
coping skills, and helps to maintain self-esteem.
5. As mentioned previously, considerable research has been directed at
identifying inner resources or protective factors that make some people
stronger and more immunized against microaggressions. High self-
esteem, optimism, resilience, collectivism, and racial, gender, and sexual-
orientation group identities (social identities) have all been posited as
possible internal resources that (1) deter the onset of stress by functioning
as an immunizing psychosocial resource (stress inoculation), (2) suppress
the stressful experience, and (3) increase the availability of resources
to combat a stressor (Ensel & Lin, 1991; Utsey et al., 2008). Studies do
support the notion that high self-esteem and collectivism may suppress
the negative impact of stress. However, the role of social group identity
(for example, racial identity) has revealed mixed results (Sellers & Shelton,
2003; Utsey et al., 2008; Yoo & Lee, 2008). Some have speculated that
ethnic identity would serve as a protective factor against experiences
of racism (Lee, 2003; Liang & Fassinger, 2008), but some research
suggests otherwise. In fact, some fi ndings indicate that those with
higher racial identity may experience greater distress than those with low
racial identity (Yoo & Lee, 2008). It has been hypothesized that highly
group-identified individuals may be more sensitive and willing to label

negative incidents as prejudice. Thus, they may experience greater stress
than those with lower group identities, who may not label a negative
incident as race-related.
6. It is clear that not all forms of racial, gender, and sexual-orientation
microaggressions have the same impact. Research has only just begun
to scratch the surface in understanding the impact of microaggressions.
Some future research areas involve:
• First and foremost, in what ways are racial, gender, and sexual-orientation
microaggressions the same or different from one another? Do they
operate under similar or different processes? There are clearly defi -
nite thematic differences between the three groups. Likewise, anec-
dotal reports seem to suggest that microassaults are more common
for LGBTs than for people of color and women. How does being an
(Continued)

1/19/10 6:10:10 PM
c05.indd 108
c05.indd 108 1/19/10 6:10:10 PM