Common Reactions to Observing A Microaggression
ANGER & RAGE
Anger is justified. A microaggression is an attack against someone you care about - humans are wired to respond to attacks with anger.
SADNESS & DISILLUSIONMENT
Sadness is a normal emotion to feel when we witness someone being put down or rejected. You may begin to feel hopeless & disillusioned by your workplace & society at large.
FEAR & ANXIETY
Fear makes sense. When you observe others discriminated against for personal identities, you may begin to similarly fear being a target (especially if the microaggressing person is a supervisor). You may notice anxiety about sharing ideas for fear of humiliation.
HIGH STRESS
Experiencing - directly & vicariously - repeated acts of subtle, unchecked discrimination is stressful. This can look like physical pain or illness, depression, anxiety & more.
SHOCK & DISBELIEF
Self-doubt is a common reaction. “Did they mean to say something so offensive?” “Did I mishear them?” “Am being too sensitive?” No you are not overreacting. You can trust your gut.
CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT TO DO
Feeling confused about how to proceed is typical. Do you call out the person who microaggressed? What if they’re your boss? Do you support the person who received the microaggression?