Navigating Micro-Aggressions in the Workplace

Microaggressions can be defined as “the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership (Wing Sue, 2010).” These subtle snubs can creep up in the work environment in the most unlikely places.

In my process of navigating the workplace as a Black woman and millennial, I have both experienced and supported others through the various microaggressions that they may have faced in their work environment.

Here are some that might seem familiar:

  • Ideas I contributed being re-directed for attribution to one of the men in the room (either immediately or overtime)
  • Being called a “girl” as a professional, full-time staff member
  • Prominent leadership figures subtly attributing career successes to affirmative action efforts
  • Assumptions of being “angry” about something when we are professionally critiquing an exclusionary policy, practice, or protocol

Thank goodness, I have learned that I do not have to stay within environments where microaggressions are commonplace. I have also learned how to discern where these types of work environments might be through the use of prior research and keen attention during interview processes.

Through mutual support systems and networks, colleagues and I have talked about ways to navigate these instances. Do we see it as a teachable moment and a brief lesson in diversity education? Do we call for the organization to establish diversity training sessions? Do we ignore it? Do we speak on it?

Honestly, there are just as many approaches as there are individuals and identities to navigate. Most of the time, understanding what to do comes on a case-by-case basis. However, here are a few things that have helped me in the past, and I hope that they will assist you if you ever have to navigate these murky waters:

Document, document, document!

There are lessons that I’ve learned through graduate school. There are lessons that I’ve learned through professional mentors. Then, there are those ‘common sense’ lessons that I’ve learned from the village that raised me and called me to the work that I do. One of those lessons is documentation. One thing that I know to be true is that there is a profound difference between 1 or 2 micro aggressions perpetuated by a colleague… and a culture that promotes, implicitly allows, or does not challenge microaggressive behaviors. You typically can “feel in your gut” which one you are dealing with. (The good news is that this gut feeling can also help you to discern which work environments will help you thrive!) If you are feeling that you have landed within a work culture that fosters microaggressive behaviors, documenting things will become absolutely key. Having a timeline allows you to examine the environment and have robust information should you need to chat with a supervisor, administrator, ombudsperson, or HR representative. Keeping this type of documentation is not unnecessary or petty. It is a dataset that can inform strategic change within the workplace or organization.

See it as a teachable moment; challenge and/or clarify.

I fully understand that not everyone will feel comfortable with this approach. However, as someone who is an educator & student affairs professional, this is an approach that I fall back on quite often. Of course, methods vary as audiences change: the approach is different if I am talking with students about what a microaggression is but I tend to be a little firmer if I am talking with a colleague. Since we’re talking about the workplace, we have to realize that we are all coming in with different backgrounds, experiences, and mindsets. Thus, creating a truly inclusive and affirming environment is a continual process. In instances where micro aggressions arise first, we have to understand and communicate to supervisors, administrators, and/or HR representatives that these instances threaten the inclusivity of the environment, and thus, impede overall productivity.Facilitating a teachable moment includes addressing the matter directly, challenging what was said, and offering clarity (i.e. I understand that as a millennial in the workplace, my age intrigues you. However, asking my age in a board meeting is inappropriate for the following reasons…) Though the methods vary, this is an approach that many can use, if it’s their choice.For clarity’s sake, I am, by no means, suggesting that every microaggression is a teachable moment. Here’s why: many times, we ask those within marginalized communities to be the primary teachers and educators on that community. This can take up a lot of cognitive energy that you want to use for the actual work that you are doing (Fries-Britt & Griffin, 2007). While this is a work that I am committed to as a multicultural student affairs professional, I do not blithely suggest that this is something that everyone should take on, if they do not feel comfortable. Please understand that creating these teachable moments with your colleagues or co-workers is something that you are empowered to choose… or not choose.

Ask clarifying questions or prompt for further explanation.

Sometimes, there just isn’t enough time or energy for a lesson about microaggressions. In those cases, I ask clarifying questions in hopes that these questions will help people to think through what they just said or did. It can be as simple as, “Help me understand what you are really saying,” or, “To me, your statement implies _______. Help me understand how you’re interpreting what you just said”. For example, in instances where my speech choices are attributed to being “a credit to my race”, or “not speaking like” a person of color, I typically ask them to help me understand what they mean: “What made you say that? How are you defining the speech patterns of persons of color? Are these speech patterns all synonymous?” (I won’t lie… I’ve thrown in “I didn’t know you studied sociolinguistics! Will you tell me more about that?” as appropriate). Many times, asking for more information allows people the space to process through their own words, thoughts, and actions.

Facilitate meaningful connections within the workplace.

If there were anyone approach that I had to stress, this one would be it. The three that are above will be contingent upon your personal circumstances, ideology, and comfort levels. However, facilitating meaningful connections within the workplace is important, regardless of the circumstance. There have been instances where I have experienced microaggressions (and/or just general discrimination) and I have accessed supervisors, colleagues, and co-workers to have those ‘close the door’ conversations. In those spaces, they told me about the organization’s history, who I needed to talk to, and in some cases, what approach I needed to take. These connections came from within my field and outside of my field. They are the people who invested in my success and who believe that workplaces could and should be inclusive and affirming. Start branching out to make those meaningful connections.

Understand that sometimes, self-care trumps all.

It’s no secret: we put in work! And many times, our work requires us to be present and effective for the long-term. So, we have to be diligent about paying attention to our own self-care when faced with microaggressions in the workplace.

The thing about microaggressions is that they subtly challenge the core of your dignity and brilliance, because of your race, ethnicity, and gender. They are not always easy to shrug off, dismiss, or confront with colleagues (and /or especially those who might be in higher leadership positions). So, in those instances, think about the ways in which you can care for yourself, right there, in that moment.

Self-care looks different for everyone. If you need to take some breaths after being the target of a microaggression, do that. If you need to talk it through with one of your connections, do that. If you find that these types of instances keep coming up on a regular and consistent basis, then self-care might look like facilitating a search for a new work environment.

This last one is scary, for sure! However, when you take your self-care and professional identity seriously in order find more inclusive work environments, the benefits tend to outnumber the concerns.

Jade Perry

View posts by Jade Perry
Jade Perry is a student affairs professional and a writer, with varied interests along the way. She contributes to a variety of online platforms on topics such as culture, spirituality, entertainment, career, and more. Her mission is to offer information, ideas, & counter-cultural narratives that will empower readers to thrive and to lovingly & creatively challenge secular and sacred systems toward greater levels of inclusion. You read more on her blog at https://jadetperry.com
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