The Complicated Story of our Daily Interactions Lisa Miles, M. Ed Associate Director, Office of Common Ground The University of Richmond’s Diversity Initiative Microaggressions

ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT TODAY  I assume you are all good people  That you desire a positive workplace  No one (or very few of you) are real jerks who could care less about other people’s feelings  That you may all be sometimes fallible, just like me

MICROAGGRESSIONS “Brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely on their marginalized group membership. - Derald Wing Sue, Columbia University, 2010

ONE WOMAN’S STORY  We all have stress  No one’s life is without challenges  People can be rude or difficult regardless of your identity  It’s easier to empathize if we’ve experienced the same thing  Microagressions happen in addition to everyday stresses

EXAMPLES OF VERBAL MICROAGGRESSIONS  “You’re a credit to your race.”  “I thought all Asians were good at Math.”  “You don’t look that gay.”  “You’re so articulate” to a person of color.  Referring to women faculty or administrators by their first name instead of Prof. or Dr.

EXAMPLES OF UNSPOKEN MICROAGGRESSIONS  Being followed by store security as you shop.  Having other people repeatedly served ahead of you while you wait in line at the deli.  Frequently interrupting a young female colleague in a meeting.  Having a pedestrian clutch their purse close to them as you walk by.

WHAT KIND OF ASIAN ARE YOU? 

INTENT VS. IMPACT Microaggressions may be intentional or not The effect on the receiver is what matters Frequent, painful, and cumulative

WHY DO WE SAY/DO THEM?  Because we’re human  Internalized or Unconscious Bias  Ignorance  Prejudice  Provocation

THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF MICROAGGRESSIONS  Physical  Mental/Cognitive Functioning

 Hormones like cortisol and adrenalin are secreted when we are responding to stress and they help mitigate the body’s response to that stress.  If constantly under stress, the effect of those hormones is not positive, called the Allostatic Load  The Allostatic Load for Blacks is up to 1.5 times the Allostatic load of Whites in the U.S.  Being poor and uneducated is bad for your health, but not as bad as being Black. ALLOSTATIC LOAD– the cumulative wear and tear on the body as a result of repeated stress

HEALTH EFFECTS RESEARCH The pattern of physical health disparities is consistent:  In race-conscious societies, racial minorities get sick at younger ages  Have more severe illness  Have a shorter life span up to 5.5 years even when controlling for education level, socio-economic status and health behaviors.

 Ambiguity consumes cognitive resources  If prejudice is ambiguous, we react with anxiety and inaction VS. if it is blatant, we react with hostility and defensive actions  Result can be decreased performance and ability to focus on other cognitive tasks (like studying, working, etc.)  Examples EFFECTS ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING

STUDENT VOICES  Many schools have started their own Microaggression Projects, often on Tumblr  Includes “I, Too, am Harvard” and compilations at schools like Smith, Oberlin, Fordham, Williams, Bowdoin  The following represent the types of statement and actions students have objected to.

WHAT DO WE DO?  Assume we’re part of the problem  Be interested in how our behaviors are affecting others  Be willing to learn, read  Implicit Association Test  Peggy McIntosh’s article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”

WHAT DO WE DO?  Within our friend groups, ask about the experiences of others  Believe people if they tell you they have been victimized  Be willing to speak up  Be open to hearing people give you feedback

Questions, Comments?