Unmasking Microaggressions on the Homefront: Exploring Faculty and Staff Perceptions After Attending an Online Workshop on Microaggressions in Higher Education

Authors

Andrea N. Crenshaw, University of West GeorgiaFollow
Natasha N. Ramsay-Jordan, University of West GeorgiaFollow
Allyson Deskins, University of West GeorgiaFollow

Abstract

Microaggressions are brief and everyday slights, insults, indignities, and denigrating messages sent to people of color and/or marginalized groups (women, LGBTQ+, etc.) by well-intentioned [people] who are unaware of the hidden messages being communicated (Sue et al., 2007). Microaggressions are connected to broader conceptualizations of the impact of implicit bias and systems of inequity. Specifically, in K-12 and higher education, microaggressions impact the physical, social, and emotional well-being of those who experience them. Growing research posits the need for more discussions in education about racism, sexism, and other bias prevalent in the field of education (Bergerson, 2003). As such, some researchers ((Escayg, 2018; Lin, Lake, & Rice, 2008) have advocated for the importance of bringing anti-bias pedagogy into educational spaces, which involves attempting to move beyond educators' comfort zones and providing them with tangible strategies to disrupt microaggressive behaviors. To discuss the intent and impact of microaggressions in educational settings and how we might respond to them, we developed a two-hour online workshop for educators and students at Western State University. This workshop allowed participants to think critically about microaggressions, how they impact higher education, and how administrators, faculty, staff, and students can promote inclusive environments. The workshop included a presentation on microaggression theory, microaggression scenarios in education, and the utilization of the A.C.T.I.O.N framework (Chueng, Ganote, & Souza, 2016) as a tool to disrupt microaggressions. Participants provided feedback about their experiences from the workshop based on an electronic survey they were provided at the end of the workshop.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Crenshaw, Andrea N.; Ramsay-Jordan, Natasha N.; and Deskins, Allyson (2023) "Unmasking Microaggressions on the Homefront: Exploring Faculty and Staff Perceptions After Attending an Online Workshop on Microaggressions in Higher Education," Georgia Educational Researcher: Vol. 20: Iss. 1, Article 1.
DOI: 10.20429/ger.2023.200101
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gerjournal/vol20/iss1/1