SHOULD YOU RESPOND?
Subtle offenses.
Microaggressions.
Whatever you want to call them, microaggressions affect you, me, and the people around us. Contrary to popular belief, see something, say something may not always be the best strategy. When it comes to microaggressions, you may want to think twice about responding, especially if you have one or more marginalized identities. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before responding to a microaggression:
If I respond…
…could my physical safety be in danger?
….will the person become defensive? will this lead to an argument?
…how will this affect my relationship with this person (e.g.,coworker, family member, etc.)?
If I don’t respond…
…will I regret not saying something?
…does that imply that I accept the behavior or statement?
There are no right or wrong answers to the above questions. You must do what is best for you and your psychological/physical safety at all times.
Adapted from A Guide to Responding to Microaggressions (2014) by Dr. Kevin Nadal
Homework
If you would like further reading about microaggressions, check out the following books:
Microaggressions in Everyday Life by Derald Wing Sue and Lisa Spanierman
Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions (2020) by Tiffany Jana and Michael Bara
Until next time,
Your favorite Chief Diversity Officer,
Dr. B.
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