Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Microaggressions?History of MicroaggressionsHow Microaggressions Show UpCauses of MicroaggressionsCopingHow to Recognize MicroaggressionsHow to Be an Ally
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Microaggressions?
History of Microaggressions
How Microaggressions Show Up
Causes of Microaggressions
Coping
How to Recognize Microaggressions
How to Be an Ally
Close
Microaggressions, on the other hand, can be more subtle, but are stillforms of prejudice: They could create similar feelings that racial slurs do, making you feel anxious, confused, angry, gaslit, unwelcome, or judged due to your appearance, culture, sexual orientation, or another characteristic that’s related to the marginalized group you may find yourself in.
Microaggressionshave been defined as “subtle verbal or nonverbal behavior, committed consciously or not, that is directed at a member of a marginalized group, and has a harmful, derogatory effect.”
The main difference between a microaggression and another type of comment is that the microaggressionspecificallytargets the marginalized group or community of a victim. They often occur quite subtly and frequently—in fact, in many instances, the person issuing the microaggression may have no idea that their words or behaviors are hostile, derogatory, prejudiced, or insulting. Microaggressions can be verbal or nonverbal and are often automatic and unconscious, according to research.
History of Microaggressions Toward the AAPI Community
Currently, there are still laws in place that allow (and even encourage) the en-masse deportations of immigrants, which can target the AAPI community, not to mention themass shootings, racial aggressions, and hate crimes Asian Americans have experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Historically, in terms of microaggressions, the earliest studies are from the early 2000s, suggesting that most Asian Americans (about 80%) have experienced microaggressions at some point in their lifetime and that they can start as early as preschool.
Intergenerational Trauma in AAPI Communities
Recognizing Microaggressions Toward AAPI
Microaggressions can take many different forms toward AAPI. They negatively impact the physical, emotional, and mental health and well-being of their targets and may elicit feelings of shame, confusion, embarrassment, stress, anger, and sadness. Below are some examples of common racial microaggressions toward members of the AAPI community.Note that microaggressions can be verbal or nonverbal.
Alien in one’s own land
This type of racial microaggression assumes that AAPI, who look or are named differently from the dominant culture, are foreign-born or “don’t belong” in America.
Examples: “Wow, you speak English so well!” and “Where are you really from?”
Ascription of intelligence
This microaggression assigns intelligence to someone based on their race, and especially perpetuates the stereotype that Asian Americans have higher intelligence levels when it comes to subjects such as math or science.
Example: “Oh, can you help me with this? You seem like you’re good at math.”
Yes, “Positive Stereotypes” Are Still Harmful
Color blindness or denial of culture
These racial microaggressions deny or refuse the acknowledgement of cultural heritage or race as if doesn’t exist, erasing the valid racial and ethnic experiences and history of people of color.
Example: “I don’t see color.”
Myth of meritocracy
Here, the microaggressor suggests that race doesn’t play a role when it comes to life successes or failures.
Example: “You’ll get the job, regardless of your race.”
Pathologizing cultural values or communication styles
This microaggression assumes the notion that the only “correct” cultural values or communication styles are of the dominant culture in that country.
Examples: “You’re being way too quiet," and “You’re not going to get that promotion because you’re not assertive enough.”
Second class citizen
This type of microaggression generally occurs when the person from the non-dominant group receives treatment from the dominant group that indicates the dominant group is preferred overall.
While the exact causes of microaggressions are unknown, it has been suggested that they occur because of learned behaviors that have been taught through observation or social mechanisms from an early age.So, even if it isn’texplicitbias,implicit biascan still exist subconsciously. This makes microaggressions occur, even if the person in question does not mean to commit one.
Some common causes of microaggressions may consist of watching television shows or reading books that show the AAPI community in a negative light orpropagate stereotypes, having childhood friends or parents discriminate against members of the AAPI community or calling them “different,” or learning history in a whitewashed way at school.
The Psychology of Racism
Coping Strategies for Microaggressions
Even though microaggressions can be very subtle, research has determined that the cumulative effect of microaggressions over time can have a significantnegative impact on mental health.If you find yourself the target of a microaggression, here are a few things that might help:
First, determine whether it’s worth responding to. Dr. Kevin Nadal, a professor of psychology at John Jay College, has a five-question checklist that can help you determine whether you should respond to a microaggression or not.
It’s important to recognize that your decision to respond to a microaggression is incredibly personal, and it all stems down to how you feel when you respond. No response is also a perfectly acceptable reaction.
Should you choose to respond, Dr. Diane Goodman, a social justice and diversity consultant, recommends memorizingstatements from her list, which consists of responses such as repeating the statements, separating the intent from the impact, and expressing how the incident made you feel.
Call a trusted friend, loved one, or community member who can witness and validate your emotions and experience and provide you with care, comfort, and support.
What to Do When a Loved One Is Being Racist
A microaggression truly is anything that suggests bias, no matter how implicitly. If something has made you uncomfortable or “other,” those feelings are valid and should be recognized as such.
And if you’re the one delivering the microaggression? Understand the other person’s opinion when they express discomfort, and take note of what you said and how it made the person feel. By naturally displaying empathy and understanding, you canbe a better allyto the community when they experience microaggressions.
Commit to increasing your awareness and correcting your behavior moving forward so that you don’t inadvertently continue to cause harm.
How to Be an Ally for the Community When You Witness Microaggressions
If you happen to see someone else making a member of the AAPI community uncomfortable due to a microaggression, here’s what you can do.
The Need for Increased Public Safety Policies for AAPI Elders
A Word From Verywell
To address microaggressions and the damage they cause, we can all do our part to learn how we may be internalizing prejudices and unlearn them, listen to people of color when they talk about their experiences, and commit to supporting each other on our anti-racism journeys and heal, together.
5 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Espaillat A, Panna DK, Goede DL, Gurka MJ, Novak MA, Zaidi Z.An exploratory study on microaggressions in medical school: What are they and why should we care?Perspect Med Educ. 2019;8(3):143-151. doi:10.1007/s40037-019-0516-3
Muramatsu N, Chin MH.Battling structural racism against asians in the united states: call for public health to make the “invisible” visible.Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. 2022;28(1):S3-S8. doi:10.1097/PHH.0000000000001411
Williams MT.Causes of Microaggressions. Oxford University Press.
Lui PP, Quezada L.Associations between microaggression and adjustment outcomes: A meta-analytic and narrative review.Psychological Bulletin. 2019;145(1):45-78. doi:10.1037/bul0000172
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
