Page 78 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

52 the psychological dilemmas and dynamics of microaggressions

devaluation of social group identities (Purdie - Vaughns, Steele, Davies, &
Ditlmann, 2008), and (6) lower work productivity and problem-solving
abilities (Cadinu et al., 2005; Dovidio, 2001; Salvatore & Shelton, 2007).
Far from having minimal impact, microaggressions have major harmful
psychological consequences to marginalized groups in this society. Even in the
face of powerful evidence, some well - intentioned professionals have argued,
however, that microaggressive researchers are “ building a mountain out of a
molehill, ” portraying minorities as weak and overly sensitive (Thomas, 2008),
or that the analysis is one - sided by placing the blame on “ perpetrators ” when
an interactional analysis should consider “ interpersonal complementarity ”
(both parties contribute to the outcome) (Schacht, 2008). Let us look at these

arguments in a systematic manner and see how they are flawed because they
trivialize and minimize the impact of microaggressions.
First, are we building a mountain out of a molehill? Thomas (2008) charac-
terizes racial microaggressions as “ pure nonsense ” and concludes that racial
microaggressions “ hardly necessitate the hand - wringing reactions ” of people
of color. He dilutes the impact of racial microaggressions by asserting that
“ everyone, regardless of race, occasionally experiences verbal, behavioral,
or environmental indignities, ” and uses an example of how political con-
servatives might be offended by seeing yet - to - be removed “ Kerry/Edwards
bumper stickers. ” In one respect Thomas is correct: all groups and nearly
everyone have experienced insults and slights in their lives. The important
point missed by Thomas, however, is equating the experience of a political
conservative with the experience of racism. These differ not only in quantity
but in the quality of the offense.
First, many White brothers and sisters fail to understand how European

Americans have historically had the power to impose and define the reality of
those with lesser power. People of color must live through the indignities and
oppression that have been omnipresent throughout the history of our country

and continue to the present day. It has been reflected in our governmental
leadership, educational systems, places of employment, and the media. People
of color do not just occasionally experience racial microaggressions. Rather it
is a constant, continuing, and cumulative experience. Thus, racial micro-
aggressions remind them that they live in a country where persons of color
are not frequently represented in Fortune 500 companies, that they continue
to occupy the lower rungs of employment, that segregation continues in many
facets of their lives, that they continue to receive inferior education and health

care, and that they continue to fill the ranks of the unemployed. They may be

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