Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 

Earlier this week, I was on my way to work and needed to stop to fuel my vehicle at the gas station.  I witnessed a major accident in an adjacent parking lot from the gas station I was headed to.  I arrived at the gas station, pumped my gas, and went inside to pay the store clerk.  I approached the counter where there were dual cash registers and a Middle-Aged, White Male checking out next to me.  While checking out I mentioned that there was a big accident right down the road.  The man next to me then commented, “Yeah, probably was a woman driving.” and jokingly laughed.  My response was awkward, I did not laugh and said I was unsure who was driving the vehicles.  This person was a good example of the dominant culture of a White male communicating superiority over woman and individuals of color and their inability to complete a task as well (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).  

As a woman, I was immediately offended and felt marginalized for my gender.  He was implying that all women are bad drivers, therefore saying right to my face that I am a bad driver, without knowing who I am, and furthermore could not possibly know ALL woman either.  This experience felt the most offensive because the gentleman jokingly laughed with me as he said the comment, believing that I would laugh along with him.  Dr. Sue describes language that directly and unknowingly insults an individual’s identity as a microinsult (Laureate Education, 2011).  The gentleman at the gas station was telling a joke that I was not in on and instead, was insulting my gender as a woman and assuming all woman have the inability to operate a vehicle safely.  

            This experience solidified that there are microaggressions occurring regularly to all individuals, because it is ingrained into our society and daily lives.  Whether it is racism, classism, or sexism, there are individuals who make unconscious aggressive comments that undermine another group of individuals.  Any of the “-isms” are not characteristics humans are born with, it is taught through family culture and societal interactions (Margles, & Margles, 2010).  Margles & Margles (2010), describe the messages that are communicated in racism as “Expressed in habits of acting, thinking and perceiving, habits that are performed as a default mode of being.”  The gentleman at the gas station was merely acting out of habit and spoke to me like he would any other person.  

Our society requires individuals to bring a level of awareness to the microaggressions that are transpiring.  In the personal experience I shared, I did nothing.  I did not tell the man I was offended or bring any light to how I was impacted.  Dr. Sue describes this moment I experienced as the “Catch 22” dilemma that individuals experience in the moment of a microaggression, unsure how to feel or act out of fear of how others will perceive my interpretations (Laureate Education, 2011).  It was an unsettling feeling to be in that position.  I hope with my gained knowledge and a bit of courage, I will begin to respectfully bring awareness to microaggressions that impact my daily life.

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Margles, S., & Margles, R. M. (2010). Inverting racism’s distortions. Our Schools/Our Selves, 19(3), 137-149.