Microagressions

Sue, D. W., Alsaidi, S., Awad, M. N., Glaeser, E., Calle, C. Z., & Mendez, N. (2019). Disarming racial microaggressions: Microintervention strategies for targets, White allies, and bystanders. American Psychologist, 74(1), 128-142. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=pdh&AN=2019-01033-011&site=eds-live&custid=s7439054

The article you've summarized, "Disarming Racial Microaggressions: Microintervention Strategies for Targets, White Allies, and Bystanders" by Sue et al. (2019), provides insights into the harmful impact of racial microaggressions and offers intervention strategies for addressing them at both interpersonal and systemic levels. Here's a breakdown of the key points and strategies outlined in the article:

1. Impact of Racial Microaggressions:

   • Racial microaggressions are everyday verbal and nonverbal actions or behaviors that convey derogatory messages toward marginalized racial groups.

   • These microaggressions can have a cumulative and detrimental effect on the mental health and well-being of targets, contributing to stress, anxiety, depression, and a hostile social climate.

   • They can occur at interpersonal levels (microaggressions) or systemic levels (macroaggressions), perpetuating institutional and cultural racism.

2. Coping Strategies for Targets:

   • Targets of racial microaggressions often experience anxiety, guilt, and feelings of helplessness.

   • Coping strategies include social support, humor, cognitive reinterpretation, self-affirmations, and directly or indirectly confronting racism.

   • It's essential to empower targets with interpersonal responses to racism, providing them with tools to defend themselves and challenge bias.

3. Role of White Allies:

   • White allies are individuals from dominant social groups who actively work to dismantle prejudice and support marginalized groups.

   • They engage in self-reflection, acknowledge their biases, and commit to external action to promote social justice and equity.

   • White allies play a crucial role in confronting racism at interpersonal and institutional levels, moving from non-racist identity to action-oriented approaches.

4. Bystander Intervention:

   • Bystanders are individuals who witness discriminatory behaviors but may lack awareness or motivation to intervene.

   • Strategies to encourage bystander intervention include enhancing awareness of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, promoting positive benefits of intervention, and providing training and support for active bystander actions.

5. Microintervention Strategies:

   • Microinterventions aim to disrupt or counteract the effects of microaggressions by challenging perpetrators and creating a more inclusive environment.

   • Strategies include making invisible biases visible, disarming microaggressions through disagreement or redirection, educating perpetrators about the impact of their actions, and seeking external support when needed.

   • Context is crucial in determining the appropriateness and effectiveness of intervention strategies, considering power differentials and relationship dynamics between individuals.

6. Importance of Research and Training:

   • Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of microintervention strategies and their impact on reducing racial bias and promoting social change.

   • Training programs for both targets and allies can enhance awareness, skills, and efficacy in responding to microaggressions and fostering inclusive environments.

Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of collective action in addressing racial microaggressions, with a focus on empowering targets, educating perpetrators, and mobilizing allies and bystanders to challenge bias and promote equity.