Click the + signs to see hidden messages and assumptions from different examples of microaggressions.
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Alien in Own Land When Asian Americans and Latino Americans are assumed to be foreign-born
ExpandA White client does not want to work with an Asian American therapist because she “will not understand my problem.”
You are not American.
ExpandA White therapist tells an American-born Latino client that he/she should seek a Spanish-speaking therapist.
You are not American.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Ascription of Intelligence Assigning a degree of intelligence to a person of color or a woman based on race or gender
ExpandA school counselor reacts with surprise when an Asian American student had trouble on the math portion of a standardized test.
All Asians are smart and good at math.
ExpandA career counselor asking a Black or Latino student, “Do you think you're ready for college?”
It is unusual for people of color to succeed.
ExpandA school counselor reacts with surprise that a female student scored high on a math portion of a standardized test.
It is unusual for women to be smart and good in math.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Color Blindness Statements that indicate that a White person does not want to acknowledge race
ExpandA therapist says, “I think you are being too paranoid. We should emphasize similarities, not people's differences, ” when a client of color attempts to discuss her feelings about being the only person of color at her job and feeling alienated and dismissed by her coworkers.
Race and culture are not important variables that affect people's lives.
ExpandA client of color expresses concern in discussing racial issues with her therapist. Her therapist replies, “When I see you, I don't see color.”
Your racial experiences are not valid.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Criminality/Assumption of Criminal Status A person of color is presumed to be dangerous, criminal, or deviant based on their race.
ExpandWhen a Black client shares that she was accused of stealing from work, the therapist encourages the client to explore how she might have contributed to her employer's mistrust of her.
You are a criminal.
ExpandA therapist takes great care to ask all substance-abuse questions in an intake with a Native American client and is suspicious of the client's nonexistent history with substances.
You are deviant.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Use of Sexist/Heterosexist Language Terms that exclude or degrade women and LGB groups
ExpandDuring the intake session, a female client discloses that she has been in her current relationship for one year. The therapist asks how long the client has known her boyfriend.
Heterosexuality is the norm.
ExpandWhen an adult female client explains she is feeling isolated at work, her male therapist asks, “Aren't there any girls you can gossip with there?”
Application of language that implies to adolescent females or to adult females “your problems are trivial.”
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Denial of Individual Racism/Sexism/Heterosexism A statement made when a member of the power group renounces their biases.
ExpandA client of color asks his/her therapist about how race affects their working relationship. The therapist replies, “Race does not affect the way I treat you.”
Your racial/ethnic experience is not important.
ExpandA client of color expresses hesitancy in discussing racial issues with his White female therapist. She replies, “I understand. As a woman, I face discrimination also.”
Your racial oppression is no different than my gender oppression.
ExpandA therapist's nonverbal behavior conveys discomfort when a bisexual male client is describing a recent sexual experience with a man. When he asks her about it, she insists she has “no negative feelings toward gay people” and says it is important to keep the conversation on him.
I am incapable of homonegativity, yet I am unwilling to explore this.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Myth of Meritocracy Statements that assert that race or gender does not play a role in succeeding in career advancement or education
ExpandA school counselor tells a Black student that “if you work hard, you can succeed like everyone else.”
People of color/women are lazy and/or incompetent and need to work harder. If you don't succeed, you have only yourself to blame (blaming the victim).
ExpandA female client visits a career counselor to share her concerns that a male coworker was chosen for a managerial position over her, despite that she was better qualified and in the job longer. The counselor responds that “he must have been better suited for some of the job requirements.”
People of color/women are lazy and/or incompetent and need to work harder. If you don't succeed, you have only yourself to blame (blaming the victim).
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Pathologizing Cultural Values/Communication Styles The notion that the values and communication styles of the dominant/White culture are ideal
ExpandA Black client is loud, emotional, and confrontational in a counseling session. The therapist diagnoses her with borderline personality disorder.
Assimilate to dominant culture.
ExpandA client of Asian or Native American descent has trouble maintaining eye contact with his therapist. The therapist diagnoses him with a social anxiety disorder.
Assimilate to dominant culture.
ExpandAdvising a client, “Do you really think your problem stems from racism?”
Leave your cultural baggage outside.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Second-Class Citizen Occurs when a member of the power group is given preferential treatment over a target group member
ExpandA male client calls and requests a session time that is currently taken by a female client. The therapist grants the male client the appointment without calling the female client to see if she can change times.
Males are more valued than women.
ExpandClients of color are not welcomed or acknowledged by receptionists.
White clients are more valued than clients of color.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Traditional Gender Role Prejudicing and Stereotyping Occurs when expectations of traditional roles or stereotypes are conveyed
ExpandA therapist continually asks the middle-aged female client about dating and “putting herself out there” despite the fact that the client has not expressed interest in exploring this area.
Women should be married, and dating should be an important topic/part of your life.
ExpandA gay male client has been with his partner for 5 years. His therapist continually probes his desires to meet other men and be unfaithful.
Gay men are promiscuous. Gay men cannot have monogamous relationships.
ExpandA therapist raises her eyebrows when a female client mentions that she has had a one-night stand.
Women should not be sexually adventurous.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Sexual Objectification Occurs when women are treated like objects at men's disposal
ExpandA male therapist puts his hands on a female client's back as she walks out of the session.
Your body is not yours.
ExpandA male therapist is looking at his female client's breasts while she is talking.
Your body/appearance is for men's enjoyment and pleasure.
Adapted from Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007.
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Assumption of Abnormality Occurs when it is implied that there is something wrong with being LGBT
ExpandWhen discussing the client's bisexuality, the therapist continues to imply that there is a “crisis of identity.”
Bisexuality represents a confusion about sexual orientation.
ExpandA lesbian comes in for career counseling, but the therapist continually insists that she needs to discuss her sexuality.
Your sexual orientation represents pathology.
ExpandThe therapist of a 20-year-old lesbian inadvertently refers to sexuality as a “phase.”