Page 241 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

Microaggressions in the Workplace/Employment 215

to one ’ s reputation from false beliefs and misinformation, and the close
monitoring of their work make them guarded, suspicious, and mistrustful
of the intents of others.
3. Depression — Depression is common in social or work withdrawal, isola-
tion from coworkers, feelings of fatigue and exhaustion from even minor
work tasks, and difficulty in getting out of bed to go to work. Work drains

the emotional, psychological, and physical energies of the person.
4. Sleep Diffi culties — While correlated with depression, this cluster of

symptoms is generally likely to occur first. The person has diffi culty
falling asleep or staying asleep. Recurrent intrusive thoughts persist
about work or anticipated future workdays, resulting in dissatisfaction
with life and irritability.

5. Lack of Confi dence — The worker begins to question their abilities, judg-
ment, and decision making. Constantly being second - guessed, close

and constant monitoring by superiors, and being treated as an inferior
takes its toll on the worker. The person begins to doubt his or her own
worth in the company.
6. Worthlessness — This feeling is related to a lack of confidence as the

person now questions their value to coworkers, the company, and to
themselves. The ultimate manifestation is a belief that one has nothing
to offer and is truly replaceable.
7. Intrusive Cognitions — These are the constant and continuing thoughts

that are replayed over and over in the mind of the person. They involve
incidents at work that assail their integrity, and remind them of their
ineptness and low value in the company. As mentioned earlier it may
disrupt sleeping patterns and/or result in dreams or nightmares related
to work.
8. Helplessness — This is most related to two facets of work. The person
feels powerless to stop the microaggressions experienced in the work-
place. Trying to confront the person may result in punitive consequences,
especially from superiors. Quitting one ’ s job may not be an option for
economic reasons, thus causing the feeling of being trapped. Second, the
constant mischaracterizations of one ’ s abilities and/or person are fi lled
with stereotypes.
9. Loss of Drive — The person ’ s energy, spiritual and psychological, is

sapped through chronic workplace microaggressions. The high ambition
that characterized the person who has gone this far in the company is
driven from the spirit and personal identity.

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