Microaggressions in Advising Relationships Building an Inclusive Advising

Microaggressions in Advising Relationships. Building an Inclusive Advising Climate. Dr. Doris Wright Carroll, Kansas State University and Annie Hoekman, Kansas Wesleyan University The National Academic Advising Association 39 th Annual Conference Las Vegas, Nevada October 4 -7, 2015

About the Presenters • Associate Professor in the College of Education’s Department Special Education, Counseling and Student Affairs at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. • Assistant Professor of Computer Studies at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas and Doctoral Candidate at Kansas State University

Academic advising is……. dynamic communication with an exchange of ideas, beliefs and perceptions But……. When advisor self-perceptions are biased, the climate for growth is minimized, leaving room for microaggressions to develop and harm the advising relationship

Purpose of this presentation 1) deconstruct microaggressions 2) inform advisors about their harmful interactions 3) articulate advising interventions to build an inclusive advising climate for change using real life advising case scenarios designed to stimulate positive climate change

Definition Microaggressions are brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to a target group (Sue & Sue, 2008). They occur in three forms: (a)microassults, (b) microinsults, and (c) microinvalidations They are extremely damaging because they impair classroom performance and workplace productivity by creating emotional turmoil and depleting psychological resources for multicultural and multiracial persons and other groups (Sue, 2005)

Microassault • Explicit racial derogation characterized primarily by an action or a verbal or nonverbal attack meant to hurt the intended victim through name-calling, avoidant behavior, or purposeful, discriminatory and conscious actions. Often seen as “old fashioned” racism (Sue, Nadal, Capidilupo, Lin, Torino, & Rivera, 2007) • Refusing to serve an African American person in a restaurant, showing a Ku Klux Klan hood or a hanging noose. Use of the “N” word.

Microinsult • Characterized by communications that conveys rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity • As an advisor, “For someone who is a first generation Latino student, you have done so well with your English courses. ”

Microinvalidation • Characterized by communications that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a person of color • As an advisor, “I do not care about the color of your skin. I am an advocate for you and I can help you to achieve your goals. ”

Deconstructing Microaggressions • Awareness of advising cultural communication • Recognize your own power & privilege • Reduce power structures on campus • Challenge institutional culture that sustains microaggression

Interventions for Advisors • Identify microaggressive oral and written communication • Discuss ways to handle such communication in your office with advising colleagues and administrators • Be proactive to review policy statements, website language, and other written communication • Advocate for social justice in advising

What suggestions have you to Enhance Advising Interactions?

References Huffington Post. (June 9, 2015) Universities Are Trying To Teach Faculty How To Spot Microaggressions http: //www. huffingtonpost. com/entry/universities-microaggressions_559 ec 77 be 4 b 096729155 bfec Solorzano, D. , Ceja, M. , & Yosso, T. (2000, Winter). Critical race theory, racial microaggressions, and campus racial climate: The experiences of African American college students. Journal of Negro Education, 69, 60– 73. Sue, D. W. (2005). Racism and the conspiracy of silence. Counseling Psychologist, 33, 100– 114. Sue, D. W. , & M. G. Constantine. (2007). Perceptions of racial microaggressions among black supervisees in cross-racial dyads. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54(2), 142 -153. Sue, Capodilupo, Torino, Bicceri, Hoder, Nadal, & Esquilin, (2007). Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life Implications for Clinical Practice. American Psychologist, 62, 4, 271– 286.

Contact Information Dr. Doris Wright Carroll dcarroll@ksu. edu Annie Hoekman amhoekma@k-state. edu