Experiencing Microaggressions at Work? A Few Thoughts to Help.
Dr. Sunitha Chandy was featured in an article on Rewire, a publication of Twin Cities PBS. Here are a few highlights from her comments on microaggressions:
One of the most damaging aspects of a microaggression is the plausible deniability. The person who committed the offense often has no idea that what was said or done was offensive and can justify themselves by their intent, therefore putting the blame on the receiver.
We also have to watch out for the tendency to put the burden of fixing the relational and communication issues on the person reporting the issue versus the offender. Oftentimes meetings and strategies are put in place that single out the individual who is worried about retaliation which only increases their anxiety.
There's no one-size-fits all solution to deal with microaggressions in the workplace, but a good place to start is getting support. Are there any colleagues, other team members, people in other departments that can help give you insight and support into this situation?