SNIPPET: Microaggressions in the Classroom

Summary

The transcript highlights experiences of microaggressions and dismissal faced by a black woman in an academic setting. She recounts instances of being complimented for her appearance in a way that undermines her intellect, being doubted in class, and being advised to pursue a less challenging career path based on stereotypes. These microinsults and assumptions about her abilities due to her appearance and race serve to undermine her self-esteem and academic aspirations.

Takeaways

• 😔 The speaker feels discounted as a person and as a black woman when being told they are pretty 'for a black girl'.
• 🌟 The speaker believes that beauty is not exclusive to any race or gender, and everyone should be appreciated for their individuality.
• 👩‍🔬 In science and engineering classes, women are sometimes treated as invisible, with professors less likely to engage with them.
• 🗣️ The speaker experienced a microinsult when a professor doubted her correct answer in a statistics class and sought validation from a male colleague.
• 🤔 The speaker faced discouragement when expressing career aspirations, with a teacher suggesting less challenging fields due to stereotypes.
• 💼 The speaker was advised to consider nursing or a nurse practitioner role instead of pursuing a career as a psychiatrist, which was seen as too difficult.
• 😕 Professors expressed surprise at the speaker's academic abilities, contradicting their initial judgments based on appearance, such as piercings and tattoos.
• 🎓 The speaker's professors made assumptions about her academic performance based on her appearance, which was perceived as that of a troublemaker.
• 👩‍🏫 There is an evident issue of microinsults and invisibility in academic settings, particularly for women of color in STEM fields.
• 💡 The script highlights the need for educators to be aware of their biases and to foster inclusive environments that value all students equally.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker raises about being complimented for her appearance at UNT?

The speaker feels that being complimented as 'pretty for a black girl' discounts her as a person and her race, suggesting that beauty should not be a qualifier based on race but a universal attribute for all women.

How does the speaker describe the experience of being dismissed in the classroom?

The speaker describes a microinsult where she and other women are treated as if they're invisible, with professors often not calling on them, which makes them feel dismissed and undervalued.

Can you provide an example of how the speaker's answer was doubted in a statistics class?

In a statistics class, the speaker answered a question correctly, but the professor doubted her answer and condescendingly suggested that it might be right, only to later confirm her answer was indeed correct after consulting another authority.

What was the speaker's response to the professor's doubting her answer in class?

The speaker felt uncomfortable and questioned what else the professor would doubt her on and how often she would be called out in front of her peers, creating an awkward and quiet atmosphere in the room.

What career aspiration did the speaker express to her science teacher?

The speaker expressed her aspiration to become a psychiatrist to her science teacher.

How did the teacher respond to the speaker's career aspiration?

The teacher immediately suggested that psychiatry might be too hard for the speaker and recommended considering a different field, such as nursing or becoming a nurse practitioner.

What was the speaker's reaction to the teacher's suggestion to consider a different career?

The speaker felt hurt by the teacher's suggestion, as it undermined her aspirations and made her feel as if she couldn't make it in her chosen field.

Why do some professors express surprise at the speaker's academic performance?

Some professors express surprise at the speaker's academic performance because they had preconceived notions based on her appearance, such as piercings, short hair, and tattoos, which led them to assume she would not be a good student.

How does the speaker feel when professors tell her they are surprised by her academic abilities?

The speaker feels hurt when professors express surprise at her academic abilities because it implies that her appearance led them to underestimate her potential.

What is a microinsult as described in the speaker's experience?

A microinsult, as described by the speaker, is a subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory comment or action that communicates a slight or insult to a person of color, in this case, by dismissing their presence or abilities.