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1 In looking at Table 4.1, can you identify how you may have committed microaggressions related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or ability?

2 Compile a list of possible microaggressions you may have committed. Explore the potential hidden messages they communicated to their recipients.

3 What do your microaggressions tell you about your unconscious perception of marginalized groups?

4 If microaggressions are mostly outside the level of conscious awareness, what must you do to make them visible? What steps must you take to personally stop microaggressions?

5 What solutions can you offer that would be directed at individual change, institutional change, and societal change?

Table 4.1 Examples of Microaggressions

Themes	Microaggression	Message
Alien in Own Land When Asian Americans and Latinx Americans are assumed to be foreign‐born	“Where are you from?” “Where were you born?”	You are not American
“You speak good English”	You are a foreigner
A person asking an Asian American to teach them words in their native language
Ascription of Intelligence Assigning intelligence to a Person of Color or a woman based on his or her race/gender	“You are a credit to your race”	People of color are generally not as intelligent as White Americans
“Wow! How did you become so good in math?”	It is unusual for a woman to be smart in math
Asking an Asian person to help with a math or science problem	All Asian people are intelligent and good in math/ sciences
“You only got into college because of affirmative action”	You are not smart enough on your own to get into college
Color Blindness Statements that indicate that a White person does not want to acknowledge race	“When I look at you, I don't see color”	Denying a Person of Color's racial/ethnic experiences
“America is a melting pot”	Assimilate/acculturate to dominant culture
“There is only one race, the human race”	Denying the individual as a racial/cultural being
Criminality/Assumption of Criminal status Assuming a Person of Color to be dangerous, criminal, or deviant based on their race	A White man or woman clutching their purse or checking their wallet as a Black or Latinx individual approaches or passes	You are a criminal
A store owner following a customer of color around the store	You are going to steal/You are poor/You do not belong
A White person waits to ride the next elevator when a Person of Color is on it	You are dangerous
Use of Sexist/Heterosexist Language Terms that exclude or degrade women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons	Use of the pronoun “he” to refer to all people	Male experience is universal Female experience is meaningless
Although a male‐to‐female transgender employee has consistently referred to herself as “she,” coworkers continue to refer to her as “he”	Our language does not need to change to reflect your identity; your identity is meaningless
Two options for Relationship Status: Married or Single	LGBTQ partnerships do not matter/are meaningless
An assertive woman is labeled a “bitch”	Women should be passive
A heterosexual man who often hangs out with his female friends more than his male friends is labeled a “faggot”	Men who act like women are inferior (women are inferior)/gay men are inferior
Denial of Individual Racism/Sexism/Heterosexism/Religious Discrimination A statement made when bias is denied	“I'm not racist; I have several Black friends”	I am immune to racism because I have friends of color
“I am not prejudiced against Muslims; I am just fearful of Muslims who are religious fanatics”	I can separate Islamophobic social conditioning from my feelings about Muslim people in general
“As an employer, I always treat men and women equally”	I am incapable of sexism
Myth of Meritocracy Statements that assert that race or gender does not play a role in life successes	“I believe the most qualified person should get the job”	People of color are given extra unfair benefits because of their race
“Men and women have equal opportunities for achievement”	The playing field is even, so if women cannot make it, the problem is with them
Pathologizing Cultural Values/ Communication Styles The notion that the values and communication styles of the dominant/White culture are ideal	Asking a Black person: “Why do you have to be so loud/animated? Just calm down”	Assimilate to the dominant culture
	To an Asian or Latinx person: “Why are you so quiet? We want to know what you think. Be more verbal. Speak up more”
Dismissing an individual who brings up race/culture in a work/school setting	Leave your cultural baggage outside
Second‐Class Citizen When a target group member receives differential treatment from the power group	Mistaking a Person of Color for a service worker	People of color are servants to White Americans; they couldn't possibly occupy high‐status positions
Mistaking a female doctor for a nurse	Women occupy nurturing roles
Having a taxi cab pass a Person of Color and pick up a White passenger	You are likely to cause trouble and/or travel to a dangerous neighborhood
Ignoring a Person of Color at a store counter and giving attention to the White customer behind them	White Americans are more valued customers than People of Color
Not inviting a lesbian woman out with a group of female friends because they think she will be bored if they talk to men	You don't belong
Traditional Gender Role Prejudicing and Stereotyping When expectations of traditional roles or stereotypes are conveyed	A male professor asking a female student working on a chemistry assignment, “What do you need to work on this for anyway?”	Women are less capable in math and science
Asking a woman her age and, upon hearing she is 31, looking quickly at her ring finger	Women should be married during child‐bearing ages because that is their primary purpose
Assuming a woman is a lesbian because she does not put a lot of effort into her appearance	Lesbians do not care about being attractive to others
Sexual Objectification When women are treated like objects at men's disposal	A male stranger putting his hands on a woman's hips or on the swell of her back as he passes her	Your body is not yours
Whistling at and catcalling a woman as she walks down the street	Your body/appearance is for men's enjoyment and pleasure
Using the term “gay” to describe a fellow student who is socially ostracized at school	Gay people are weird and different
Assumption of Abnormality When it is implied that there is something wrong with being LGBTQ	Two men holding hands in public receiving stares from strangers	You should keep your displays of affection private because they are offensive
“Did something terrible happen to you in your childhood?” to a transgender person	Your choices must be the result of a trauma and not your authentic identity
Helplessnessa When people frantically try to help people with disabilities (PWDs)	Helping someone with a disability on to a bus or train, even when they need no help	You can't do anything by yourself because you have a disability
	People feeling they need to rescue someone from their disability	Having a disability is a catastrophe
Denial of Personal Identityb When any aspect of a person's identity other than disability is ignored or denied	“I can't believe you are married!”	Your life is not normal or like mine; the only thing I see when I look at you is your disability
Exoticization When an LGBTQ person, woman of color, or member of a religious minority is treated as a foreign object for the pleasure/entertainment of others	“I've always wanted an Asian girlfriend! They wait hand and foot on their men”	Asian American women are submissive and meant to serve the physical needs of men
“Tell me some of your wild sex stories!” to an LGBTQ person	Your privacy is not valued; you should entertain with stories
Asking a Muslim person incessant questions about his or her diet, dress, and relationships	Your privacy is not valued; you should educate me about your cultural practices, which are strange and different
Assumption of One's Own Religion as Normal c	Saying “Merry Christmas” as a universal greeting	Your religious beliefs are not important; everyone should celebrate Christmas
Acknowledging only Christian holidays in work and school	Your religious holidays need to be celebrated on your time; they are unimportant

^a Adapted from Sue, Bucceri et al. (2007).

^b Themes and examples are taken from Keller and Galgay (2010).

^c Themes and examples are taken from Nadal, Issa, et al. (2010).