This week, I learned about microaggressions and how they can affect people. In the video, Dr. Sue explains microaggressions to be brief everyday indignities that are verbal, environmental, or behavioral. They are communicated intentionally or unintentionally, and contain an insulting message that causes physical stress or harm (Laureate Education, 2011).

A personal experience I have had with microaggression had to deal with my gender. I was in my early teens, and have grown up with an extended family full of boys and uncles who LOVE to hunt. Just because I was a girl, didn’t mean I was excused from the woods, so I would go out with them and build blinds, bait, and even hunt with my own bow and arrow. I remember as a writing assignment in middle school, I wrote about hunting with my cousins. One of the boys I sat next to said to me “I bet you’ve never shot anything in your life.” He was implying that because I was a girl, and not that many girls hunt, that I was no good at it. It really hurt my feelings, and I remember that moment to this day.

Before this class, I knew that discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes were wrong, but unfortunately were also things still prevalent in today’s society. The effects of these things can be very hurtful to those who are the target, and even to those who are not the target, but perceive them to be wrong. I myself am very saddened that we still have these issues today. The key is education, and we need to do a better job of not just learning ourselves, but teaching others just how important these differences are. In learning about microaggressions this week, I will definitely be more mindful as I believe I have most likely unintentionally been part of a microaggression at some point in my life.

Reference

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in Everyday

Life [Video webcast]. EDUC- 6164-8, Diversity & Equity. (Course Media). Baltimore, MD: Author