From The Washington Post: “When Sue began studying the impact of microaggressions, many of his White colleagues told him his work was making a mountain out of a molehill, that microaggressions were just macro nonsense.
But microaggressions can cause depression and self-esteem issues, Sue’s research shows. ‘They are a constant reminder that we, as people of color, are second-class citizens in our own country,’ he said.
There’s also the stress of how to respond.
‘If you choose not to do anything about it, it takes a toll on you psychologically,’ Sue said. And physically. Studies have shown people subjected to microaggressions experience elevated blood pressure because they get upset or feel frustrated, maybe even angry at themselves for not saying something, he said.”
