Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Two weeks ago I was grocery shopping when I was found myself observing a microaggression at the deli counter. I was waiting in line at the counter behind an elderly woman in a motorized wheelchair. When it was her turn, she started signaling to the deli clerk what she wanted, and I realized she was deaf. Because she was in a wheelchair, the deli clerk could not see over the counter to see what she was pointing at. The deli clerk looked at me and said, “I can’t tell what she is trying to say.’” She made no move to come out from behind the counter, and I could tell she was uncomfortable with this woman’s differences, so I stepped in and started to “translate”. My sign language skills consist only of a few “basics” I use to help the children in my room, so I was able to discern “more” and “less” as well as see what she was pointing to. The woman was pantomiming quite a bit, probably because she could tell we didn’t know sign. As she was trying to signal something (I couldn’t tell what), a man came up to us, and seeing my confusion, figured out she was pantomiming “dipping sauce”. I thanked him and told the deli clerk. He was right, and so he turned to me and said, “I’m pretty good at playing charades!” That comment irritated me, and in understanding what microaggressions are, I now understand why. I also understand that the deli clerk’s assumption that I was there to help this disabled woman is a microaggression.

Though he said it light-heartedly, with no ill intentions, what the man did was belittle the deaf community and their language. Sign language is not part of a game; it is part of a culture and a way of communicating. The deli clerk’s actions can be seen as a microaggression as well. She assumed that because someone was deaf and/or in a wheelchair that she could not independently participate in normal activities, such as shopping. After the woman got all she needed from the deli counter, she thanked me, and was on her way (but not after letting me know I needed to learn more sign!)

Reflecting on this experience has made me realize that microaggressions really do happen everywhere on an everyday basis, and I can definitely see how repeated exposure to microaggressions can take a toll on people. If I felt so strongly about a microaggression that wasn’t even aimed at me, how must the targeted person feel? I think that to bring microaggressions to light they must be identified when they happen. This means that I must have a heightened awareness of what microaggressions are, which will take considerable practice in looking at actions and behaviors from another’s viewpoint. This was a very good exercise!