Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 

 

I have really enjoyed learning about microagression, it has taught be so about the different aspects of biases. Before the only thing I really knew about people being bias was when people display prejudice. Now I know it is so much more than that. Granted all microagressions are very important but I have to be honest, racial microagression is the one that I have experienced the most. Microagressions can have long term affects like low self-esteem, mental health, self-concept, and more.

Yesterday, I was a victim of racial microagression at my job. I was in the process of filling some forms that pertain to my job during my maternity leave. So I called the lady in human resources who handles things like this to ask her two question. The same lady who has had many complaints against her because of her prejudice ways, especially against Africa Americans. However I simply asked her about what date to put on the form. She then proceed to tell me that one of the dates that I had asked about putting on the form did not apply to what I was filling the form out for. In a very nice way I explained to her that I was fully aware of what short term disability was and did not wish to get paid for anything but the days that were stated by my doctor that I would be out. Her response to me was and I quote “Well you put down whatever you want to put down and we are going to just send it in!” I immediately became angry because I felt that if it had been someone of her own I knew she wouldn’t have been rude like that, because I have seen how different she is with certain people. I wish there was some one that I could report her to, but unfortunately it’s not. Her boss is our executive director, who is well aware of previous complaints that have been made against this lady. So I know even if I talked to her and expressed how I feel, I conversation would be no more than just more water under the bridge. In addition to being angry, I also felt helpless.  I don’t know if she has gotten comfortable with treating people like this because she know there will be no actions taken against her, or if she is just tired of her job but won’t retire. Whatever the case maybe I wish that she would find it in her heart to be a better person, because feelings are all that some people have.

My experience with this week made me want to be a better person. It made me think about the way that I treat and react to people. It also made me think about how to handle myself when I am the victim of any type of microaggression. In my case I feel that maybe the community organization that I work for should do more works shops on diversity and maybe even microaggressions. After all Dr. Sue does suggest that  o successfully address systemic and individual microagressions, organizations must develop a systematic and long term commitment to educate the entire work force concerning diversity (Sue 2010).  Maybe if things like this are done people will begin to be more aware of their biases.

 

 

References

Sue, Derald, Wing. (2010) Micoraggression in everyday life Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation.NJ: John Wiley & Sons

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