Thursday, May 9, 2013
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Audience: Faculty/Staff - Student - Public
Group: Diversity and Inclusion
The purpose of this workshop is to discuss the ways that heterosexist and transphobic microaggressions may manifest in everyday life, particularly in classroom and workplace settings. We will discuss microaggressions based on sexual orientation and gender identity, highlighting the various types of subtle discrimination that may occur. For example, heterosexist microaggressions may include using phrases like “That’s so gay!” to indicate that something is bad, weird, or undesirable, while transphobic microaggressions may include using incorrect gender pronouns when referring to transgender or gender nonconforming people. Research has found that individuals who encounter microaggressions may experience both short-term and long-term psychological distress. For instance, some studies have found that people who experience microaggressions were likely to also report negative mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety, low self-esteem, and even problems with physical health and functioning. Thus, this workshop will also focus on various ways that people can cope with microaggressions, as well as the ways that individuals, groups, and institutions can prevent microaggressions from occurring.