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.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Microaggressions and Stereotyping in Academic Environment

The paragraph discusses the speaker's experiences with microaggressions and stereotyping at the University of North Texas (UNT). They feel that comments like 'pretty for a black girl' undermine their personhood and racial identity, suggesting that beauty is not a universal quality across all women. The speaker also shares instances of being dismissed or treated as invisible in the classroom, particularly in male-dominated fields like science and engineering. One incident involved a professor doubting the speaker's correct answer in a statistics class and seeking validation from a graduate student, which was later confirmed as correct but without an apology. Another instance was a teacher suggesting the speaker might not be cut out for psychiatry and should consider a nursing career instead, based on their appearance and preconceived notions. The speaker also mentions professors expressing surprise at their academic abilities, contradicting initial judgments based on their appearance, such as piercings, short hair, and tattoos.

Keywords

💡Microinsult

A microinsult is a subtle, often unintentional, offensive comment or action directed towards someone based on their membership in a marginalized group. In the context of the video, the speaker describes being told they are 'pretty for a black girl,' which is a microinsult that undermines their individuality and reinforces racial stereotypes. This type of comment, while seemingly complimentary, actually discounts the person's achievements or attributes by attributing them primarily to their race.

💡Invisibility

Invisibility in this context refers to the experience of being overlooked or ignored, particularly in academic settings. The speaker mentions instances where female students in science and engineering classes are not called upon by professors, making them feel invisible. This concept relates to the broader theme of marginalization and the invalidation of one's contributions or presence in a space where they are already underrepresented.

💡Condescension

Condescension is an attitude of patronizing superiority, often displayed by someone who believes they are more knowledgeable or superior to others. In the video, the speaker recounts an incident where a professor doubted her answer in a statistics class and spoke to her in a condescending manner. This behavior not only undermines the speaker's confidence but also reflects a broader issue of disrespect and dismissal of students' capabilities based on stereotypes.

💡Doubt

Doubt, in the context of the video, refers to the skepticism or lack of trust in someone's abilities or knowledge. The speaker experiences doubt from a professor who questions the correctness of her answer in class, even after she provides a valid response. This doubt is tied to the theme of underestimating individuals from marginalized groups and can have a detrimental impact on their self-esteem and academic engagement.

💡Stereotype

A stereotype is an oversimplified and generalized belief about a particular group of people. The video discusses how stereotypes about race and gender affect the speaker's experiences. For example, the notion that all black women are beautiful is presented as a stereotype that reduces individuals to their race rather than acknowledging their unique qualities. Stereotypes can lead to biased treatment and hinder individuals from being seen as whole persons.

💡Dismissal

Dismissal in this context means to treat someone's ideas, contributions, or ambitions as unimportant or invalid. The speaker feels dismissed when a teacher suggests that becoming a psychiatrist is too hard for her and recommends a different career path. This dismissal is based on assumptions about the speaker's capabilities, which are influenced by her appearance and the teacher's biases.

💡People of Color

People of color is a term used to describe individuals who are not white, encompassing a wide range of ethnicities and racial backgrounds. The video emphasizes the beauty and value of people of color, rejecting the notion that they should be complimented or acknowledged primarily because of their race. The speaker advocates for recognition of the inherent beauty in all individuals, regardless of their racial or ethnic background.

💡Assumption

An assumption is a belief or acceptance that something is true without proof or evidence. In the video, assumptions are made about the speaker's academic abilities based on her appearance, such as having piercings and tattoos. These assumptions lead to lowered expectations and can create a self-fulfilling prophecy where individuals are not given the opportunity to prove themselves.

💡Trouble-maker

A trouble-maker is someone who is perceived as causing problems or disruptions. The speaker is labeled as a trouble-maker by her professors due to her appearance, which includes piercings, short hair, and tattoos. This label is an example of how stereotypes can lead to unfair judgments and can negatively impact a student's academic experience and opportunities.

💡Participation

Participation in an academic setting refers to a student's active involvement in class discussions and activities. The video highlights the speaker's active participation in class, which contradicts the professors' initial assumptions about her based on her appearance. This keyword underscores the importance of not judging students' engagement and capabilities solely on their looks.

💡Surprise

Surprise, in this context, is the unexpected acknowledgment of someone's abilities or achievements. The speaker mentions that professors express surprise at her good academic performance, which implies that they had low expectations due to her appearance. This surprise is indicative of the biases and stereotypes that can lead to underestimating individuals from marginalized groups.

Highlights

Experiencing microaggressions by being told one is 'pretty for a black girl', which feels dehumanizing and dismissive of one's race.

The belief that beauty is not exclusive to any race or gender, and that all individuals, regardless of color, can be beautiful.

Microinsults in the classroom where students, particularly women in science and engineering, are treated as if invisible or doubted.

An instance where a student's correct answer was doubted and condescendingly dismissed by a professor, only to be later validated.

The uncomfortable experience of being publicly doubted in front of peers, causing awkward silence and tension.

A teacher's immediate dismissal of a student's career aspirations, suggesting a less challenging field due to stereotypes.

The suggestion that a student might be better suited for nursing instead of pursuing a career in psychiatry, based on assumptions.

The financial success of nurse practitioners in psychiatry being used as a reason to discourage medical school aspirations.

The internal conflict caused by being told one is not expected to succeed, despite having the desire and capability.

Professors expressing surprise at a student's academic performance, contradicting their initial judgments based on appearance.

The stereotype of a 'trouble-maker' being associated with a student's appearance, such as piercings, short hair, and tattoos.

The impact of such stereotypes on a student's self-esteem and the credibility of their academic abilities.

The importance of recognizing and addressing microinsults and stereotypes in educational settings to create a more inclusive environment.

The need for educators to challenge their own biases and assumptions about students based on appearance or background.

The psychological impact of being constantly underestimated and having one's ambitions questioned.

The resilience required to persist in the face of doubt and dismissal from authority figures.

The broader implications of such microaggressions on the representation and success of underrepresented groups in academia.

Transcripts

while here at UNT I've heard you're so

pretty for a black girl, I feel like it

discounts me as a person and then I feel

like it discounts my race, I feel like you

can be pretty just because you're women

or you know all black women are

beautiful all people of color are beautiful

just the same as people that are not

people of color, so I for them to make

that specific statement that's what I'm

like what in you made you say

that to me as if it were a compliment.

Another type of microinsult is when

students in the classroom are dismissed

treated almost as if they're invisible

for instance in some of our sciences or

engineering classes there are few

women and professors often don't call on

those women

I had one instance in a statistics-based

class where we were discussing something

bell curve related and he presented a

question and I don't remember exactly

what the answer was but I answered it

and and he kind of doubted me and he very

condescendingly was just like oh okay

well I mean like this is the best answer

but I guess your answer could be right

you know what we'll ask it was a grad

student he was like you know what we'll

ask dr. so-and-so and see what and see

what he thinks the best answer is and

there was no apology or anything he was

just like oh yeah I dr. dr. so-and-so

said that yeah that was that was

actually a really acceptable answer I

was just like okay what else is is he

going to doubt me on and when else am I

going to be called out in front of 70

other 70 other people you know and have

a weird exchange that makes the whole

room quiet like

One of my science

classes my teacher had asked what I

wanted to do and I told the teacher that

I wanted to be a psychiatrist and

immediately they're like that's too hard

for you maybe you should try a different

field or have you ever thought about

being a nurse being a nurse practitioner

nurse practitioners in psychiatry make

pretty well they make a lot of money -

have you thought about that like why go

to med school generally sometimes

somebody might feel like they can't make

it you know and then when you continue

to tell them that, then

it does hurt you know

I have a lot of

professors tell me to my face that they

were surprised that I was as good as

a student as I was and that I pay attention

in class and actually participated, when I

asked why they said well you know you just

come off as trouble-maker

you have all these piercings and short hair as a girl

with tattoos we just naturally assumed you weren't

really going to be any good