Examining the impact of gender-based microagressions and institutional betrayal on women holding multiple marginalized statuses

Abstract

Microaggression refers to subtle, often indirect, discriminatory behavior committed against members of marginalized groups. The subtle nature of microaggressions can often make them seem innocuous, however, they can have a determinantal impact on those who experience them. Women are a marginalized group who experience microaggressions on the basis of gender, rooted in sexism. Further, many women hold multiple marginalized statuses based on their race, sexuality, disability, age, religion, body size, or socioeconomic status. As such, they may also experience microaggressions based on these intersectional identities. While microaggressions in themselves have been shown to be negatively related to mental health, it has been suggested that how that initial microaggression is responded to by an institution can cause the mental health impact to be exacerbated through institutional betrayal (i.e., the failure of an institution to proactively prevent harm, or to be supportive following harm). Further, if institutions can respond with courage and support, the impact of a microaggression might also be changed. Despite the potentially dangerous impact of microaggressions, no research, to my knowledge, has experimentally investigated the impact of a microaggression directly after it was perpetrated. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach and investigated the impact of a single gender-based microaggression with institutional betrayal or support on state affect in women. Further, the impact of holding multiple marginalized statuses was investigated. The study took place via Zoom, and participants completed an unobtrusive measure of state mood directly before and after a male confederate perpetrated a microaggression consistent with sexual objectification. The experimenter then responded to said microaggression with institutional support or institutional betrayal. Once participants recompleted the mood measure, they were asked to complete a number of questionnaires focused on past experiences of gender-based discrimination and mental health symptoms and they were asked to respond to qualitative questions regarding their experience of the microaggression. Results showed that women in the institutional betrayal condition had a decrease in negative mood after experiencing the microaggression and women in the institutional support condition had an increase in negative mood after experiencing the microaggression. Furthermore, regardless of condition all women showed an increase in positive mood. Future directions and implications are discussed.