The Daily Bulletin Archive

Please join us for the professional development workshop” What Are Microaggressions?” presented by Jean Strait, associate vice president for Buffalo State educational pipeline initiatives, on Friday, November 9, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Chase Hall 109.

Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely on their marginalized group membership. 

While microaggressions are generally discussed from the perspective of race and racism, any marginalized group in our society may become targets: people of color, women, LGBTs, those with disabilities, religious minorities, and so on. These everyday occurrences may, on the surface, appear harmless or trivial, or be described as “small slights,” but research indicates they have a powerful impact on the psychological well-being of marginalized groups and affect their standard of living by creating inequities in education, employment, and health care.

Dr. Strait and her team will share what microaggressions are, how we identify them, and how we can change our language to eliminate them. Tools to understand microaggressions will be introduced along with the following learning outcomes:

• Create an awareness of microaggressions
• Understand how microaggressions can marginalize others
• Reflect on ways to address and foster authentic dialog about issues

Breakfast will be provided, sponsored by the Buffalo State Chapter of United University Professions. Please register through the Workshop Registration System.