Session 8

Question 1

Define microaggressions

Answer 1

• Brief, everyday exchanges that convey denigrating messages that are often unintentional and unconsciously delivered in the form of subtle snubs, dismissive looks, gestures and tones
• May be the process through which racism and racist behaviors affect the health of people of color

Question 2

Name some clues to microaggressions in body language

Answer 2

• Not making eye contact
• Standing farther away
• Indication of suspicion: “clutch purse” “lock car doors”
• Exclusion from social group unconsciously
• Turning away
• Over- or under-communication
• Change in length of words

Question 3

What is the cumulative effect of microaggressions and what can these effects lead to?

Answer 3

Fear, self-doubt, cynicism and isolation

Can lead to depression, anger, dropping out and a sense of hopelessness

Question 4

Definition of microaggressions as according to the chart from the University of Wisconsin

Answer 4

Commonplace verbal or behavioral indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults.

Question 5

Definition of microinsult (often unconscious)

Answer 5

Behavioral/verbal remarks or comments that convey, rudeness, insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity

Question 6

Definition of microassault (often conscious)

Answer 6

Explicit racial derogations characterized primarily by a violent verbal or nonverbal attack meant to hurt the intended victim through name-calling, avoidant behavior or purposeful discriminatory actions

Question 7

Definition of microinvalidation (often unconscious)

Answer 7

Verbal comments or behaviors that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts, feelings or experiential reality of a person of color

Question 8

Define environmental microaggressions (macro- level)

Answer 8

Racial assaults, insults and invalidations which are manifested on systemic and environmental levels

Question 9

Name 4 kinds of microinsults

Answer 9

1. Ascription of intelligence
2. Second Class Citizen
3. Pathologizing cultural values/communication styles
4. Assumption of criminal status

Question 10

Explain Ascription of Intelligence

Answer 10

Assigning a degree of intelligence to a person of color based on their race

Question 11

Explain second class citizen

Answer 11

Treated as a lesser person or group

Question 12

Explain pathologizing cultural values/communication styles

Answer 12

Notion that the values and communication styles of people of color are abnormal

Question 13

Explain assumption of criminal status

Answer 13

Presented to be a criminal, dangerous, or deviant based on race

Question 14

Name 4 different types of microinvalidation

Answer 14

1. Alien in Own Land
2. Color Blindness
3. Myth of Meritocracy
4. Denial of individual racism

Question 15

Explain Alien in own land

Answer 15

Belief that visible racial/ethnic minority citizens are foreigners

Question 16

Explain color blindness

Answer 16

Denial or pretense that a White person does not see color or race

Question 17

Explain the myth of meritocracy

Answer 17

Statements which assert that race plays a minor role in life success

Question 18

Explain denial of individual racism

Answer 18

Denial of personal racism or one’s role in its perpetuation

Question 19

Define power

Answer 19

Access to resources and participation in society

Question 20

Define prejudice

Answer 20

Beliefs, attitudes, and actions based on stereotypes

Question 21

What’s the racism formula?

Answer 21

Racism = Prejudice + Power

Question 22

Define racism

Answer 22

Racial prejudice plus institutional and systemic power to dominate, exclude, discriminate against or abuse targeted groups of people based on race

Question 23

What type of mistreatment does racism result in?

Answer 23

Oppression

Question 24

Oppression results when (3 things):

Answer 24

1. Racism is a part of the dominant culture’s national consciousness
2. It is reinforced through its social institutions
3. There is an imbalance of social and economic power in society

Question 25

Explain the concept of race as a social construction

Answer 25

Racial categories have been constructed by dominant groups and used as a justification for oppression, slavery, inhuman treatment and genocide.

Question 26

Define “implicit” (note: not “implicit bias”)

Answer 26

We are either unaware or mistaken about the source of the thought, assumption or feeling

Question 27

Define “implicit bias”

Answer 27

A positive or negative mental attitude towards a group that is held at an unconscious level. Even well-intentioned people may have implicit biases that affect how they conduct research

Question 28

Implicit bias may be

Answer 28

* A form of rapid cognition based on small bits of information * An ancient reflexive system (limbic system) * Adaptive: A danger detector * Mal-adaptive: Preserves stereotypes

Question 29

Explain “Institutional explicit bias” and give an example

Answer 29

* Policies which explicitly discriminate against a group. | * Police department refusing to hire people of color.

Question 30

Explain “Individual explicit bias” and give an example

Answer 30

* Prejudice in action- discrimination | * Police officer calling someone an ethnic slur while arresting them.

Question 31

Explain “individual implicit bias” and give an example

Answer 31

* Unconscious attitudes and beliefs | * Police officer calling for back-up more often when stopping a person of color.

Question 32

Explain “institutional implicit bias” and give an example

Answer 32

* Policies that negatively impact one group unintentionally. | * Police department focusing on street-level drug arrests.

Question 33

How can one work on implicit bias?

Answer 33

* Constantly interrogate your assumptions * Don’t accept automatic judgments * Don’t justify an automatic response as a basis for judgment * Listen for flag words that indicate implicit bias – “Everyone knows that…”