Okay to say?: Initial validation of the Acceptability of Racial Microaggressions Scale.

Mekawi, Yara; Todd, Nathan R.

doi:10.1037/cdp0000201

Cited by 40 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(75 reference statements)

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“…In line with the idea that microaggressions are no more than “ever-smaller specks,” (p. 176), Haidt (2017) emphasizes giving offenders the benefit of the doubt, but neither Lilienfeld nor Haidt discussed the major dangers of ignoring microaggressions. Beyond the physical chronic stress response and mental-health issues linked to these pervasive experiences, microaggressions are indicative of racial prejudice in offenders (Kanter et al, 2017; Mekawi & Todd, 2018); consequently, there could be damaging consequences for ignoring these subtle warning signs. A person of color might decide to trust someone who has microaggressed only to find that person subsequently behaves in a way that is hurtful, untrustworthy, or deceitful.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was especially true for White students who thought that minorities are too sensitive about matters related to racial prejudice, which was the item most strongly correlated to the racial feeling thermometer, our most explicit measure of racial bias ( r = –.41, p < .001). These data were from a sample of students in Kentucky, but we have since collected data from students in Seattle and New England (for similar findings, see also Mekawi & Todd, 2018).…”

Section: Microaggressions Are Caused (At Least In Part) By Racial Biasesmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Given that most people seem to recognize that microaggressive behaviors are unacceptable (Michaels, Gallagher, Crawford, Kanter, & Williams, 2018; Kanter et al, 2017), it would make sense that those who are more temperamentally aggressive would be less likely to suppress urges to microaggress. Mekawi and Todd (2018) examined this issue in their study of the acceptability of microaggressions (microinsults and microinvalidations, specifically), using the 3-item subscales of the short version of the Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ; Buss & Perry, 1992). They did not find strong or consistent correlations between various types of microaggressions and verbal aggression or hostility.…”

Section: Operationalizing Microaggressionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microaggressions: Clarification, Evidence, and Impact

Williams

2019

Perspect Psychol Sci

210

183

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In a 2017 article in Perspectives on Psychological Science, Scott Lilienfeld critiqued the conceptual basis for microaggressions as well as the scientific rigor of scholarship on the topic. The current article provides a response that systematically analyzes the arguments and representations made in Lilienfeld’s critique with regard to the concept of microaggressions and the state of the related research. I show that, in contrast to the claim that the concept of microaggressions is vague and inconsistent, the term is well defined and can be decisively linked to individual prejudice in offenders and mental-health outcomes in targets. I explain how the concept of microaggressions is connected to pathological stereotypes, power structures, structural racism, and multiple forms of racial prejudice. Also described are recent research advances that address some of Lilienfeld’s original critiques. Further, this article highlights potentially problematic attitudes, assumptions, and approaches embedded in Lilienfeld’s analysis that are common to the field of psychology as a whole. It is important for all academics to acknowledge and question their own biases and perspectives when conducting scientific research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microaggressions Are Caused (At Least In Part) By Racial Biasesmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Operationalizing Microaggressionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microaggressions: Clarification, Evidence, and Impact

Williams

2019

Perspect Psychol Sci

210

183

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“…Williams suggests that the question of whether microaggressions are related to aggression is settled by definition: “If we accept that racism is a form of violence, then more research is not necessary to classify microaggressions as a form of aggression” (p. 10). Still, she proceeds to discuss a study by Mekawi and Todd (2018). To her credit, she acknowledges that the study revealed no consistent correlations between perceived acceptability of microaggressions and self-reported verbal hostility or aggression.…”

Section: Do Microaggressions Reflect Aggression and Prejudice?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microaggression Research and Application: Clarifications, Corrections, and Common Ground

Lilienfeld

2019

Perspect Psychol Sci

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In this issue, Williams (pp. 3–26) responds to my 2017 critique in this journal of the scientific status of the microaggression research program (MRP). In some cases, she presents helpful data that partially address several of my recommendations for enhancing the MRP’s rigor. Nevertheless, because she appears to misconstrue many of my arguments regarding the MRP, many of her rebuttals are not relevant to my criticisms. Furthermore, her assertions notwithstanding, Williams does not effectively address my concerns regarding the (a) excessively fuzzy boundaries of the microaggression construct, (b) psychometric hazards of relying exclusively on subjective reports when detecting microaggressions, and (c) hypothesized causal impact of microaggressions on mental health. In other cases, Williams appears to draw causal inferences from correlational data and conflate within-group with between-group differences. Although several of Williams’s recommendations for MRP research are worth considering, I contend that some others are unlikely to be conducive to a scientific approach to microaggressions. The MRP remains a promising but provisional research program that would benefit from greater openness to outside criticism. I conclude with a discussion of areas of potential common ground in microaggression research and application.

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“…For instance women who report experiencing more sexist events were less likely to hold attitudes that deny individual, institutional, and cultural discrimination in regard to women (Moradi & Subich, 2002). Individuals who report being frequent targets of racial microaggressions were less likely to find power evasion microaggressions (e.g., a White individual saying “everyone has the same chance to succeed regardless of their race”) acceptable (Mekawi & Todd, 2018). Moreover, other forms of exposure to discrimination, such as witnessing or learning of racism and sexism has also been linked to social attitudes.…”

Section: The Nature Of Microaggressive Behaviors: Race- and Gender-basedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unpacking young adults’ experiences of race- and gender-based microaggressions

Midgette

Mulvey

2021

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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To date the majority of the research on microaggressions has focused on the experiences of targets, rather than the perpetrators, of microaggresive behaviors. The present study set out to investigate 278 college students’ ( Mage = 19.12, SD = 1.34, 52.52% cisgender women, 74.82% European American) reported types of experience (a) unaware, b) aware, c) observer, d) perpetrator, and e) target) with race- and gender-based microaggressive behaviors and the association between their experiences and ambivalent sexist and color-blind racial attitudes. Participants completed an online survey composed of a modified Racial and Ethnic Microaggression Scale (REMS), a modified Female Microaggression Scale (FMS), an Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, and a Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale. As hypothesized, participants were more likely to have heard of or seen than to report having been the target or perpetrator of microaggressions. In support of our second hypothesis, significant gender and race differences were found in the frequencies of type of exposure to microaggressions. Finally, as expected, exposure to microaggressions was associated with color-blind and ambivalent sexist attitudes. Unexpectedly, however, complete unawareness of the existence of microaggressions was not associated with social attitudes. This study’s findings highlight the importance of unpacking social experiences of discrimination to better understand what types of experiences contribute to being critical of and reducing the commission of microaggressions.

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Okay to say?: Initial validation of the Acceptability of Racial Microaggressions Scale.

Abstract: Overall, we provide initial psychometric and validity evidence for the ARMS and discuss implications and potential uses of the scale. (PsycINFO Database Record

Cited by 40 publications

References 48 publications

Microaggressions: Clarification, Evidence, and Impact

Microaggressions: Clarification, Evidence, and Impact

Microaggression Research and Application: Clarifications, Corrections, and Common Ground

Unpacking young adults’ experiences of race- and gender-based microaggressions

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