Micro Aggression Assignment

1. What is a micro aggression? In your definition describe at least four of the dimensions of a
micro aggression?

Micro aggression is defined as brief, everyday exchanges that convey denigrating comments which is
often very subtle and unintentional leaving the victim nor the perpetrator unaware of the situation.

- Gender micro aggression: “Mansplaining” is the explaining to women information or processes,

assuming they know less than men because women should always learn from men. This is also
the case when people doubt women who are leaders, questioning their abilities because women
are said to be interlopers not leaders.
- Racial microinvalidation: asking an Asian-American where they were born, conveying the
message that they are an alien in the land.
- Sexual orientation microinsults: Other girls refuse to befriend a lesbian girl at school, conveying
the message that a person attracted to the same sex are always attracted to every person of the
same sex.
- Racial microinsult: Assuming that Asians are naturally more intelligent in the sciences and math,
conveying the message that they do not work hard for it.

2. Identify the two assumptions behind asking the secretary of a new female president of a
university: What is it like working for a woman of color?
- Conveying the message that women leaders are less intelligent than men, and that they are less
capable of the job. Wondering how things will change when a woman assumes leadership.
- Conveying the message that people of color are different from whites, that they have different
capabilities and are “less than”.

3. What are two other names that could be used to label environmental micro aggressions?
Institutional micro aggression or systemic micro aggression

4. List three common characteristics of micro insults:

Rude, insensitive, demeaning
5. List three common characteristics of micro invalidations:
Excluding, negating, nullifying

6. List three groups or categories of people who would likely experience micro insults and
invalidations?
- Black
- Asians
- People who are differently-abled
 7. Give an example of an environmental micro aggression that each of the above-mentioned three
groups/categories of people might experience. Associate each group with a specific example.
- Blacks: A black student is asked by a teacher which sport he plays, conveying the message that
he got into this school due to his sportsmanship not academic intelligence
- Asians: Asking an Asian student to help with math homework, conveying the message that all
Asians are naturally gifted in the sciences and math
- People who are differently-abled: People in wheelchairs are talked to as if they were a child,
using high and soft tones, conveying the message that they are less intelligent than other
people.
8. Which of the seven impacts of micro aggression do you feel is the most harmful? Explain why.

Creates physical health problems: These consequences may lead to eventual death because when
victims start harming themselves, it is hard to stop. Getting treatment for their physical health problem
will make them feel “weak” and this continues the micro aggression from the perpetrators.

9. In what context can the word “gay” or “retard” be used as a micro insult?
- Gay is used to describe someone who is socially ostracized, conveying the message that LGBTQ
people are weird, strange or deficient.
- Retard: Used to describe someone when they do something dumb, conveying the message that
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are stupid.
10. Give an example of Dilemma Three that you feel is particularly harmful to either people who are
differently-abled or LGBTQ? Explain your answer.

People who are differently abled or LGBTQ people are often told by their perpetrators that they are
overreacting to the situation and those unaffected will call it a minor problem. These people are
encouraged to “let it go” since it is “a waste of time” because nobody will believe them or back them up.
These actions have serious consequences such as emotions of self-doubt, frustration and isolation.