For this week's assignment, we were instructed to describe an example of a microaggression we have detected this week or remember from another time. One example of microaggressions -microinsults and microvalidations- that happened to me I can remember was when a woman from another race was in the store looking at the African American hair products and asked me, "What do ya'll put on your hair to make it stiff, do ya'll use wax?" At first, I got offensive, but I replied, "I don't use wax on my hair." I knew no offense was consciously intended because she was a hairstylist, but I was put in the "Catch 22" position.
As a person of color, I felt insulted because most whites usually consider African Americans to have "nappy" hair. Even though I knew she unintentionally meant harm, it made me feel discriminated because of my race and made me wonder what was her hidden message in the question. I am aware of microaggressions because of my race, but I have chosen to be an overcomer of them because I know who I am, and what I am striving to become in life.
Carol
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting situation you experinced. I don't know if I should angry with the woman or give her credit for asking. She was curious. I agree: most people probably mean well.
Hello Carol,
ReplyDeleteI don't use wax either. Matter of fact, I don't know anyone that uses wax on their hair. Uh, is that the stuff men used on their mustaches?
This was a good example of microinsult. Thanks.