Page 18 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

xvi preface

Bias, prejudice, and discrimination in North America has undergone a
transformation, especially in the post–civil rights era when the democratic
belief in equality of marginalized groups (racial minorities, women, and gays/
lesbians) directly clashes with their long history of oppression in society. In the
case of racism and sexism, its manifestation has been found to be more dis-
guised and covert, rather than overtly expressed in the form of racial hatred
and bigotry. Research also indicates that sexism and heterosexism have not
decreased, but instead become more ambiguous and nebulous, making them
more difficult to identify and acknowledge.

Although much has been written about contemporary forms of racism,
sexism, and homophobia, many studies in health care, education, law, employ-

ment, mental health, and social settings indicate the difficulty of describing

and defining racial, gender, and sexual-orientation discrimination that occurs
via “implicit bias”; these are difficult to identify, quantify, and rectify because

of their subtle, nebulous, and unnamed nature. Subtle racism, sexism, and hetero-
sexism remain relatively invisible and potentially harmful to the well-being,
self-esteem, and standard of living of many marginalized groups in society. These
daily common experiences of aggression may have significantly more and

stronger effects on anger, frustration, and self-esteem than traditional, overt
forms of racism, sexism, and heterosexism. Furthermore, their invisible nature
prevents perpetrators from realizing and confronting their own complicity
in creating psychological dilemmas for minorities and their role in creating
disparities in employment, health care, and education.
In reviewing the literature on subtle and contemporary forms of bias,
the term “microaggressions” seems to best describe the phenomenon in its
everyday occurrence. Simply stated, microaggressions are brief, everyday
exchanges that send denigrating messages to certain individuals because of
their group membership. The term was first coined by Pierce in 1970 in his

work with Black Americans, in which he defined it as “subtle, stunning, often

automatic, and nonverbal exchanges which are ‘put downs’” (Pierce, Carew,
Pierce-Gonzalez, & Willis, 1978, p. 66). They have also been described as “subtle
insults (verbal, nonverbal, and/or visual) directed toward people of color,
often automatically or unconsciously” (Solorzano, Ceja, & Yosso, 2000). In the
world of business, the term “microinequities” is used to describe the pattern
of being overlooked, underrespected, and devalued because of one’s race or
gender. They are often unconsciously delivered as subtle snubs or dismissive
looks, gestures, and tones. These exchanges are so pervasive and automatic

1/19/10 6:05:01 PM
fpref.indd xvi 1/19/10 6:05:01 PM
fpref.indd xvi