By Hanna Traslosheros Abascal
This blog was written as part of Aid with Perspective, a student initiative led by Ambassador Payton Johnson.
In the 2004 chick-flick Mean Girls, the protagonist, Cady Heron, describes the subtle tactics of mean girls as her frenemy flaunts her boyfriend, who was also Cady’s crush. She states: “In Regina’s world, all the fighting had to be sneaky.”
While TV shows may portray aggression and bullying primarily through being shoved in lockers, stealing lunches, and name-calling, most rude and offensive comments are passive-aggressive or conveyed through body gestures, as simple as an eye roll. Similarly, modern-day discrimination and offensive language can be described as “sneaky”. Thus, the term microaggressions, or indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group, becomes an ever-relevant idea in our modern society. In the 21st century, same-sex marriage has been legalized and the United States has seen its first African American president and female vice president. Humanity is at the farthest it’s come in recognizing and battling discrimination against neglected communities. So how come, according to the Harvard School of Public Health, 57% of black Americans reported discrimination in pay and consideration for promotions and 31% of all women say they have been discriminated against when applying for jobs due to their gender. Like in Mean Girls, prejudice has become “sneaky” and at times, unintentional.
A few years ago, my family and I went to buy a car for my brother. My mom took it out for a test drive and came back a few minutes later. As she handed back the key, the car dealer said, “You drive well; I’m surprised!” She just replied, “Oh, thanks.” We both looked at each other confused and upset for a few moments after. But what was she supposed to say? Act confused? Question his flawed mindset? While it was meant as a compliment, his comment represented centuries of sexist concepts. Offensive ideologies planted generations ago are still found deep in the roots of jokes and compliments. Blondes have been considered dumb. Asians are seen as smart. Women are called dramatic. Furthermore, instead of proper recognition, microaggressions are set aside so that one can abide by common social norms, and the idea persists. While there are opportunities for discriminatory perceptions to dissolve, they persevere in our minds through implied biases.
As one fights against the current of being told they are “overreacting”, “adversarial” or “can’t take a joke”, the most effective ways of altering the status quo is self-awareness and moderate reactions. While we cannot control others' hurtful remarks, we can control our own and our reactions to theirs. Someone can be a perpetrator as often as they are a victim. Microaggressions take place all around us every day, online and in-person. The University of California San Francisco reports that 1 in 5 Americans experience at least one microaggression daily. We must implement recognizing them as a part of our daily routine. This may be through pausing to acknowledge a vaguely offensive Tik Tok, a back-handed compliment, or the cover photo for a magazine. Brushing it aside may be the first reaction, or an awkward thanks, but it is imperative to treat it as any other type of derogatory language, with consideration and thought of the situation and implications of your words and actions. Depending on the environment or relationship with the person, it may be best to remain calm and ignore them, but in professional environments where discriminatory comments may become a pattern The Harvard Business Review advises one to speak up about the issue.
Microaggressions may appear as a minor offense, but their continual use has accumulated as a barrier between humanity and a society free of stereotypes and unfair biases. By fostering self-awareness and respectful conversations, we can create environments where everyone feels respected. It is only through a collective effort that “sneaky” conversation can be transformed into moments of growth.
