Page 83 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

The Catch-22 of Responding to Microaggressions 57

or hopelessness of having any impact upon the situation. Another reason
may be a conscious desire to conserve one ’ s energies, rather than to
expend oneself in situations that have minimal chances for success.
6. Fearing the consequences — interpersonal power differentials determine
degree of threat. A lack of response is often the result of an assessment

between action benefits versus threat (negative personal consequences).

When people of color, women, and LGBTs hold greater power or occupy
an equal status relationship with people in the majority society, they are
more likely to respond directly to a microaggression. Those who are least
empowered are more likely to raise issues in organizations or with col-
leagues when they reach a critical numerical mass, generally considered
to be 20% to 25% of the population. Even if a critical mass is reached,
power still resides with those most representative of the dominant
group. By definition, then, marginalized groups in our society generally

do not hold greater interpersonal, institutional, or social infl uence and
power. In most group relationships, men – women, gays – straights,
and Whites – people of color are inherently unequal. In the work setting,
for example, how do female employees confront their male colleagues
when microinequities occur? What happens to them when they do?
How do Black students in class respond to White professors who com-
mit racial microaggressions? What happens to them when they do?
Threat of retaliation in various forms is always on the minds of those
who are disempowered systemically. Social isolation, being perceived
as a troublemaker, not getting a promotion or being fired at work, and

receiving a lower grade in class are possible consequences. In such an
environment, people of color, women, and LGBTs are likely to think
twice about taking action.

While all of these reasons hold some validity for nonresponse on the part of
marginalized individuals, they potentially possess major psychological and
physical harm. It may mean the loss of integrity, lowered self - esteem, expe-
riencing pent - up anger and frustration, somaticizing problems, and so forth.
However, choosing to take action in the face of microaggressions may also
hold dangers that lead directly to the catch - 22.
Returning to the plane incident, I [Derald Wing Sue] would also like to share addi-
tional details of my encounter with the flight attendant. During my heated conversation,

I had expected my African American colleague to come to my aid or to at least support
me. Yet she said nothing throughout the interaction and only smiled and laughed so

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