Focusing the Lens to See More Clearly

Overcoming Definitional Challenges and Identifying New Directions in Racial Microaggressions Research

Bibliographic Data

ID8109758
AuthorsYara Mekawi (0009-0007-7295-1373, corresponding author), Nathan R Todd (0000-0003-3287-6827, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Year2021
Volume16
Issue5
Pages972-990
Publication date2021-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePerspectives on Psychological Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1745-6916 • E-ISSN: 1745-6924
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1745691621995181
PMID34498525
OpenAlexW3197133603
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited90

Despite significant advances in research on racial microaggressions, key challenges remain regarding how to define and classify them. Resolving these challenges is necessary to reduce misunderstanding and the subsequent minimization of racial microaggression research. Our goals in this article are to discuss the definitional challenges, to discuss implications for the creation of taxonomies, and to offer directions for how a revised definition and corresponding taxonomies can be used to further racial microaggression research. Regarding our first aim, we assert that racial microaggressions are observable events that occur independently of intention (i.e., regardless of whether they are intentional or unintentional) or impact (i.e., regardless of how they are perceived by recipients). Moreover, we assert that racial microaggressions are most validly defined by people of color and can have different meanings on the basis of situational context. The second aim is to propose a refinement and expansion of racial microaggression taxonomies. Sue and colleagues' taxonomy has been invaluable, yet other ways of classifying microaggressions and moving toward dimensional taxonomies are needed to advance scholarship. We highlight key dimensions related to the experience, perpetration, characteristics, and sociopolitical function of racial microaggressions that may be useful for future taxonomies. Overall, overcoming definitional challenges and expanding taxonomies holds potential to advance the literature on racial microaggression

Context (archaeology · Political science · Scholarship · Situational ethics · Critical Race Theory in Education · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology