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Aggressive social action antagonizes minorities

Stereotyping has become a common occurrence in the world today — and with it, microaggression.

Women’s Resource Center Program coordinator Malkia Hutchinson led Wednesday’s Gender Talk, titled “Microaggressions: Sharing Stories of When We’ve Been Marginalized.” This week’s discussion topic focused on more than just gender issues, though.

“Microaggressions are statements that reinforce marginalizations,” Hutchinson said.

Microaggressive comments are not focused on one entity; they can be used to make comments on race, gender, social class and much more.

According to the Society of Counseling Psychology, racial microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities, regardless of intent.

“(Microaggressions) communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial slights and insults towards people of color,” according to the organization’s website. “Those who inflict racial microaggressions are often unaware that they have done anything to harm another person.”

In the WRC discussion, participants discussed ways in which they had been marginalized. Sociology graduate student Dipabali Saha, an Indian-American, volunteered a few of her own experiences.

“People always asked me, ‘If you are Indian, then does that mean you are vegetarian?’” Saha said. “I have also had people come up to me and start talking to me in Spanish because they automatically assumed I was Spanish-speaking.”

Saha had a few comments to make on why microaggressive comments are so common in today’s world.

“People get a lot of perceptions of different races from TV,” she said. “I find that nothing is black and white. There are so many gray areas in which the problem lies. If everything were black and white, we would not have this problem.”

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8 Comments

  • So called “majorities” also suffer from stereotypes. Christians are portrayed as bigots while those that follow Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism are seen as enlightened within academia. Whites are seen as a problem for diversity, since it is a terrible thing to have “too many” of them, but when other groups dominate it is seen as a positive example that their community has flourished.

  • I have been asked by Indians if I live on a ranch after I told them that I’m from Texas. Some people have even asked me if I ride a horse as a method of transportation. They have a right to ask me, and I have a right to answer them if I wish to do so.

  • I’m Italian, and sometimes people speak to me in Spanish as well, assuming that I’m a Spanish speaker. I was never offended by it. This article shows one of the problems with diversity and political correctness. Rarely is a very diverse place full of unity and cohesiveness. Instead we get defensive and suspicious of each others intentions. Although the diversity cultists proclaim that its good to share knowledge about other cultures through diversity, you shouldn’t ask any questions about whether a person is a vegetarian due to their Indian heritage. That is offensive. You shouldn’t speak Spanish to someone, because that is very offensive if it turns out they are not a Spanish speaker. Its safer not to ask any questions about a person’s race/nationality, culture, or customs. You cannot treat them like someone of your own background either, because that would be insensitive to the needs of someone of their diverse background. You need to walk on egg shells because they can be offended at any moment. I asked a person if they would like a cup of coffee and she said in an offended tone” Do you think I like coffee because I”m Colombian?” I had no idea she was Colombian, I just wanted to be polite since I was getting myself some coffee. I have seen first hand that many people are less comfortable constructively criticizing people outside of their backgrounds than within their backgrounds. I really wish someone would write about the negative effects of diversity instead of all these rainbow and unicorn stories about how diversity is so great and makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy.

  • ““(Microaggressions) communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial
    slights and insults towards people of color,” according to the
    organization’s website.”

    Why only towards people of color? People without color cannot be victims of microaggressions? Oh yeah, I forgot that only whites can be evil.

  • “(Microaggressions) communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial
    slights and insults towards people of color,” according to the
    organization’s website. “

    Why only people of color? People without color(Whites) cannot be victims of microaggressions? Oh yeah, I forgot that only Whites can be evil.

    • These psychologists are too lazy to study the complex neurological processes that are being explored by serious psychologists. It’s far easier to talk about the victimized groups that suffer under White monsters. Phony outrage is very trendy and a great way to make a name for yourself in academia.

  • Another anti-white article. Minorities are always the victims, we get it. Minorities can never be racist or make racist remarks against Whites. So many whites are attacked in knockout games(polar bear hunting) but they cannot be considered hate crimes because its open season on whites. Only minorities can be victims of hate crimes, ask Eric Holder.

  • “microaggression” is the latest foot in the door for censorship by the Left. Squash these people immediately or you will soon be expelled because some protected class of left winger decides you looked at them funny.

    Search microaggression at McGill university.

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