Microaggressions and Latina/o Americans: An analysis of nativity, gender, and ethnicity.

Abstract

This exploratory study examined microaggressions experienced by Latinas/os and considered whether such discrimination manifests differently based on gender, ethnicity, or nativity among a sample of 311 Latina/o Americans. Descriptive analyses of microaggression experiences in participants’ lives were examined with multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and a series of t tests. The results showed significant differences in experiences of microaggressions: women experienced more microaggressions in the workplace or school settings; self-identified Dominicans were more likely to experience being exoticized; and Puerto Ricans more likely to be treated as second-class citizens or as criminals. The results also found younger Latinos/as, and those with lower levels of education, were more likely to experience microinvalidations. Although the results support previous research that racial and ethnic minorities experience microaggressions, the current findings extend this growing body of research by highlighting the role of within group differences in Latina/o Americans’ experiences of microaggressions. Implications for research and racial microaggressions scholarship are discussed.

Ethnic microaggressions, traumatic stress symptoms, and Latino depression: A moderated mediational model.

“…The mean REMS score is higher than has been reported in previous research (Nadal, Mazzula, et al, 2014). Ethnic microaggressions were significantly correlated with traumatic stress, ethnic identity, and depression.…”

Perceptions of Police, Racial Profiling, and Psychological Outcomes: A Mixed Methodological Study

“…Further, because Asian American men are often demasculinized or stereotyped as being “model minorities” (Nadal, Escobar, Prado, David, & Haynes, ), police may not enact bias toward them in the same way that they would toward Black men. Relatedly, both the Latina/o and Asian American communities are so diverse regarding race and ethnicity—in that Latinos may identify (or be racially perceived) as Black, White, Native American, or multiracial (Nadal, Mazzula, Rivera, & Fujii‐Doe, ) and some Asian Americans (e.g., Filipino Americans) report microaggressions regarding criminalization (Nadal et al., ). Future studies may examine ethnic background, skin color, phenotype, or immigrant status (and their intersections with race and gender) influence individuals’ beliefs about law enforcement and procedural justice.…”

Prevalence and correlates of perceived ethnic discrimination in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study.

“…The literature regarding acculturation and discrimination is also mixed, as most (Cook, Alegría, Lin, & Guo, 2009; Pérez et al, 2008; Todorova et al, 2010) but not all (Finch et al, 2000; Nadal et al, 2014) research indicates Latinos with greater levels of acculturation report greater discrimination. The data from this study are also consistent with this hypothesis, as all measures of acculturation were positively associated with reports of discrimination.…”