Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2022 - 66

Practice Management
DEI Task Force Report
What Are Microaggressions and How
Do They Affect Us?
Dr. Nehi Ogbevoen
Newport Beach, CA
PCSO Bulletin Contributor
Have you heard any of these statements before?
□ " You are so articulate. "
□ " Where are you really from? "
□ " Everyone can succeed in today's society if they
just work hard! "
□ " So, who is the man in the relationship? "
□ " You are going to stay home with the kids, right?'
Chances are that you have overheard at least one of
these in your office. If you have heard one of these
statements or any like them, you have most likely witnessed
a microaggression. Microaggressions are defined
as intentional or unintentional subtle everyday
behaviors and interactions that express some sort of
bias toward historically marginalized groups. These
verbal and/or behavioral indignities may communicate
hostility or negative attitudes toward specific
groups. Marginalized communities include, but are
not limited to, groups excluded due to race, gender
identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and/
or immigration status. Often times, microaggressions
perpetuated against marginalized individuals
are dismissed or explained as a misunderstanding
or minor offense. The term microaggressions has
recently become more prevalent as efforts increase
to make communities, workplaces, and schools more
inclusive.
According to Associate Director for Student Life and
Development at Whatcom Community College Dr.
Adekunbi Ajiboye, EdD, CHES, there are three forms of
microaggressions: (1) microinsults, (2) microassaults,
and (3) microinvalidation. Microinsults are often
unconscious remarks or comments that communiWith
so much changing in the world constantly, the
PCSO Board took the initiative to create a Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force to ensure we
are continually reflecting and evolving to better serve
our members and our orthodontic communities. To
implement any change, it is important to educate
ourselves and be comfortable having tough conversations
with our friends, family, employers, and employees.
It is with these discussions we can learn and grow
into more understanding and accepting individuals.
cate insensitivity and often demean the individual or
group. Examples of microinsult include:
□ Ascribing a degree of intelligence to a person or
group,
□ Pathologizing cultural values or communication
styles, and
□ Assumptions or presumptions of an individual's
criminal status.
Microassaults are often conscious and intentional
verbal and nonverbal behaviors that express explicit
derogatory characterization of an individual or group.
Examples of microassault include:
□ Racial or sexist insults, name calling, and/or jokes,
□ Avoidant behaviors, and
□ Racial or sexist profiling.
Finally, microinvalidations are often unconscious
verbal or behavioral actions that exclude, negate, or
nullify the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of an
individual or group. Microinvalidations are the most
prominent microaggressions experienced on a daily
basis. Examples of microinvalidation include:
□ Stating that you do not see color or individual
races and
□ Asserting that a person's marginalized identity
plays only a minor role in their life.
Let's revisit the statements from above that on the
surface may seem harmless and take a deeper dive
into what they may be signaling in the contexts of
assumptions, stereotypes, and biases regarding members
of various groups.
□ " You are so articulate. " This may express stereotypes
that members of certain groups are not usually
capable of clear and thoughtful conversations.
□ " Where are you really from? " This may express
assumptions that members of certain groups are
foreign-born or not American.
□ " Everyone can succeed in today's society if they
just work hard! " This may express biases that suboptimal
outcomes for members of certain groups
result from their laziness without considering
societal biases as obstacles.
66
PCSO Bulletin Summer 2022
Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2022
