Microaggressions in Everyday Life

An educational curriculum policy in the suburban Anoka-Hennepin School District north of Minneapolis has spurred controversy and discussion about how sexual orientation issues should be discussed in schools.

Microaggression

The Federal Budget Debate: An Environmental Microaggression?

David Rivera Ph.D. on May 13, 2011

Over the past few months, environmental microaggressions have been communicated via the guise of the debates surrounding the federal budget. Of particular concern are the negative covert messages concerning women and the poor that were conveyed via the debate around Planned Parenthood's funding.

Over the past few months, environmental microaggressions have been communicated via the guise of the debates surrounding the federal budget. Of particular concern are the negative covert messages concerning women and the poor that were conveyed via the debate around Planned Parenthood's funding.

“All the white people I know deplore racism.  We feel helpless about racial injustice in society, and we don’t know what to do about the racism we sense in our own groups and lives..."

Sex

Gay Parents: Socially Unacceptable?

David Rivera Ph.D. on February 8, 2011

The photograph of Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, with their newborn baby boy quickly made its way around the major media outlets over the past couple weeks. But almost as quickly as a popular magazine bearing the image hit the newsstands, controversy erupted. 

The photograph of Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, with their newborn baby boy quickly made its way around the major media outlets over the past couple weeks. But almost as quickly as a popular magazine bearing the image hit the newsstands, controversy erupted. 

The classic bully is often depicted as a loner, gruff, low-achieving, has poor social skills, and comes from a dysfunctional family. While this may be true of many bullies, it is not true of all bullies.

Can microaggressions be directed at women, LGBT persons, or those with disabilities? Yes.

Bias

The Power to Define Reality

David Rivera Ph.D. on October 11, 2010

When I speak about my personal experiences with subtle and covert forms of discrimination, also known as microaggressions, I am often challenged about my interpretations. Is it possible, they may ask, that the behavior exhibited by the person you described had nothing to do with discrimination? Aren't there many other logical reasons why that behavior may have occurred?

When I speak about my personal experiences with subtle and covert forms of discrimination, also known as microaggressions, I am often challenged about my interpretations. Is it possible, they may ask, that the behavior exhibited by the person you described had nothing to do with discrimination? Aren't there many other logical reasons why that behavior may have occurred?

Is subtle bias harmless?