Loading...
Directions: Click the + signs to see hidden messages and assumptions from different types of microagressions.
Reset

Alien in Own Land

You are not American

  • Expand When Asian Americans and Latino Americans are assumed to be foreign-born.
      • Expand “Where are you from?” “Where were you born?”
        “You speak good English”
        • You are not American.
  • Expand A person asking an Asian American to teach them words in their native language.
    • You are a foreigner.
Reset

Ascription of Intelligence

Assigning intelligence to a person of color or a woman based on his or her race/gender
  • Expand “You are a credit to your race.”
    • People of color are generally not as intelligent as Whites.
  • Expand “Wow! How did you become so good in math?”
    • It is unusual for a woman to be smart in math.
  • Expand Asking an Asian person to help with a math or science problem
    • All Asians are intelligent and good in math/sciences.
  • Expand “You only got into college because of affirmative action.”
    • You are not smart enough on your own to get into college.
Reset

Color Blindness

Statements that indicate that a White person does not want to acknowledge race
  • Expand “When I look at you, I don’t see color.”
    • Denying a person of color’s racial/ethnic experiences.
  • Expand “America is a Melting Pot.”
    • Assimilate/acculturate to dominant culture.
  • Expand “There is only one race: the human race.”
    • Denying the individual as a racial/cultural being.
Reset

Criminality/Assumption of Criminal Status

A person of color is presumed to be dangerous, criminal, or deviant based on their race
  • Expand A White man or woman clutching their purse or checking their wallet as a Black or Latino approaches or passes.
    • You are a criminal/You are dangerous.
  • Expand A White person waits to ride the next elevator when a person of color is on it.
    • You are dangerous.
Reset
Use of Sexist/Heterosexist Language Terms that exclude or degrade women and LGB persons
  • Expand Use of the pronoun “he” to refer to all people.
    • Male experience is universal.
      Female experience is meaningless.
  • Expand Though a male-to-female transgendered employee has consistently referred to herself as “she,” coworkers continue to refer to “he.”
    • Our language does not need to change to reflect your identity; your identity is meaningless.
  • Expand Two options for Relationship Status: Married or Single.
    • LGB partnerships do not matter/are meaningless.
  • Expand An assertive woman is labeled a “bitch.”
    • Women should be passive.
  • Expand 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.
Reset
Denial of Individual Racism/ Sexism/Heterosexism/Religious DiscriminationA statement made when bias is denied
  • Expand “I’m not racist. I have several Black friends.”
    • I am immune to racism because I have friends of color.
  • Expand “I am not prejudiced against Muslims. I am just fearful of Muslims who are religious fanatics.”
    • I can separate Islamaphobic social conditioning from my feelings about Muslim people in general.
  • Expand “As an employer, I always treat men and women equally.”
    • I am incapable of sexism.
Reset

Myth of Meritocracy

Statements that assert that race or gender does not play a role in life successes
  • Expand “I believe the most qualified person should get the job.”
    • People of color are given extra unfair benefits because of their race.
  • Expand “Men and women have equal opportunities for achievement.”
    • The playing field is even; so if women cannot make it, the problem is with them.
Reset

Pathologizing Cultural Values/Communication Styles

The notion that the values and communication styles of the dominant/White culture are ideal
  • Expand Asking a Black person: “Why do you have to be so loud/animated? Just calm down.”
    • Assimilate to dominant culture.
  • Expand Dismissing an individual who brings up race/culture in work/school setting
    • Leave your cultural baggage outside.
Reset

Second-Class Citizen

Occurs when a target group member receives differential treatment from the power group
  • Expand Person of color mistaken for a service worker
    • People of color are servants to Whites. They couldn’t possibly occupy high-status positions.
  • Expand Female doctor mistaken for a nurse
    • Women occupy nurturing roles.
  • Expand 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.
  • Expand Being ignored at a store counter as attention is given to the White customer behind you
    • Whites are more valued customers than people of color.
  • Expand A lesbian woman is not invited out with a group of girlfriends because they thought she would be bored if they were talking to men.
    • You don’t belong.
Reset

Traditional Gender Role Prejudicing and Stereotyping

Occurs when expectations of traditional roles or stereotypes are conveyed
  • Expand When a female student asked a male professor for extra help on a chemistry assignment, he asks, “What do you need to work on this for anyway?”
    • Women are less capable in math and science.
  • Expand A person asks a woman her age and, upon hearing she is 31, looks quickly at her ring finger.
    • Women should be married during childbearing ages because that is their primary purpose.
  • Expand A woman is assumed to be a lesbian because she does not put a lot of effort into her appearance.
    • Lesbians do not care about being attractive to others.
Reset
Sexual ObjectificationOccurs when women are treated like objects at men’s disposal
  • Expand A male stranger puts his hands on a woman’s hips or on the swell of her back to pass by her.
    • Your body is not yours.
  • Expand Whistles and catcalls as a woman walks down the street.
    • Your body/appearance is for men’s enjoyment and pleasure.
  • Expand Students use the term gay to describe a fellow student who is socially ostracized at school.
    • People who are weird and different are “gay.”
Reset

Assumption of Abnormality

Occurs when it is implied that there is something wrong with being LGBT
  • Expand Two men holding hands in public receiving stares from strangers.
    • You should keep your displays of affection private because they are offensive.
  • Expand “Did something terrible happen to you in your childhood?” to a transgendered person.
    • Your choices must be the result of a trauma and not your authentic identity.
Reset

Helplessness1

Occurs when people frantically try to help people with disabilities (PWDs)
  • Expand Someone helps you onto a bus or train, even when you need no help.
    • You can’t do anything by yourself because you have a disability.
  • Expand People feel they need to rescue you from your disability.
    • Having a disability is a catastrophe.
  1. Adapted from Sue et al., 2007.
Reset

Denial of Personal Identity2

Occurs when any aspect of a person’s identity other than disability is ignored or denied
  • Expand “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.
  1. Themes and examples are taken from Keller & Galgay, 2010.
Reset

Exoticization

Occurs when an LGBT, women of color, or a religious minority is treated as a foreign object for the pleasure/ entertainment of others
  • Expand “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.
  • Expand “Tell me some of your wild sex stories!” to an LGBT person.
    • Your privacy is not valued; you should entertain with stories.
  • Expand Asking a Muslim person incessant questions about his/her diet, dress, and relationships.
    • Your privacy is not valued; you should educate me about your cultural practices, which are strange and different.
Reset
Assumption of One’s Own Religion as Normal3
  • Expand Saying “Merry Christmas” as a universal greeting.
    • Your religious beliefs are not important; everyone should celebrate Christmas.
  • Expand The sole acknowledgment of Christian holidays in work and school.
    • Your religious holidays need to be celebrated on your time; they are unimportant.
  1. Themes and examples are taken from Nadal et al., 2010.