Page 291 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

Microaggressive Impact on Mental Health Practice 265

Table 12.1 (Continued )
THEMES MICROAGGRESSION MESSAGE
Advising a client, “Do you Leave your cultural
really think your problem baggage outside.
stems from racism?
Second-Class Citizen A male client calls and Males are more valued
Occurs when a member of requests a session time than women.
the power group is given that is currently taken by a
preferential treatment over a female client. The therapist
target group member grants the male client the
appointment without calling
the female client to see if
she can change times.
Clients of color are not White clients are more
welcomed or acknowledged valued than clients of
by receptionists. color.
Culturally Insensitive/ A therapist refuses to There is only one way
Antagonistic Treatment play other roles but the to be cured: the White,
Occurs when ethnocentric traditional one of self- Western European way.
defi nitions of counseling/ exploration.
therapy are imposed on clients
Traditional Gender Role A therapist continually asks Women should be
Prejudicing and Stereotyping the middle-aged female married, and dating
Occurs when expectations of client about dating and should be an important
traditional roles or stereotypes “putting herself out there,” topic/part of your life.
are conveyed despite the fact that the
client has not expressed
interest in exploring this area.
A gay male client has been Gay men are
with his partner for 5 years. promiscuous. Gay
His therapist continually men cannot have
probes his desires to meet monogamous
other men and be unfaithful. relationships.
A therapist raises her Women should not be
eyebrows when a female sexually adventurous.
client mentions that she
has had a one-night stand.
Sexual Objectifi cation A male therapist puts his Your body is not yours.
Occurs when women are hands on a female client’s
treated like objects at men’s back as she walks out of
disposal the session.
A male therapist is looking Your body/appearance
at his female client’s is for men’s enjoyment
breasts while she is talking. and pleasure.

(Continued )

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